Columbia Valley Pioneer Staff
A next generation 911 emergency system is on its way across Canada, and the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) is preparing for it with the help of $45,000 in funding.
“We are grateful to the Ministry of Citizen’s Services for these funds and look forward to working with our 911 delivery partners at E-Comm and Kelowna Fire Dis- patch to determine how to best prioritize its use,” said RDEK board chair Rob Gay.
The funding has been provided to all local govern- ments and modern treaty First Nations to support the local implementation of the new 911 system. The money can be used for everything from public education to mapping, GIS, and staff training.
“At this time, we are awaiting more details on what the new system will look like, how it will operate, and what the expectations will be for local governments around its implementation, said Gay. “Once we have those details, we will best be able to determine how we will utilize this funding for maximum impact.”
The new 911 will modernize the current system to allow for newer technology such as video and real-time text and will include greater capacity for 911 operators to gather situational awareness and location information from callers.
The RDEK has until August 2, 2026 to utilize the approved funding, which is part of a $150 million dollar commitment by the province to assist with technological upgrades and implementation costs. The new system is anticipated to be in place across Canada in March 2025.
