Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleBritish Columbia’s 911 system is getting its biggest upgrade in decades, and it brings one new feature every family should know about: the B.C. 911 callback. If your 911 call cuts off almost right away, the system will now phone you back automatically.
The switch is happening now in stages across the province. RCMP dispatch centres in Prince George and Kelowna move over today, Oct. 29, and the Coquitlam and Langley RCMP detachments follow on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
How the B.C. 911 callback works
If a 911 call disconnects almost immediately, the new system automatically calls back the 10-digit number that dialled. You will hear a recorded message:
- Press 1 to be connected to 911.
- Press 3 if the call was an accident.
If nobody answers the first callback, the system tries a second time. E-Comm, which answers 911 calls for 99 per cent of callers in B.C., expects more accidental and pocket dials to show up, because the new network detects calls that are cut off within milliseconds. The old system never saw those calls at all.
The BC RCMP says the automated callback is the only immediate change the public will notice. Calling 911 otherwise works exactly as before: you dial, a call taker answers, and police, fire or ambulance is sent.
Why the 911 system is changing
B.C. is moving from an old analog network to a digital one called Next Generation 911, or NG911. The CRTC, Canada’s telecom regulator, requires the change, and it is being rolled out across the country.
“This work strengthens the reliability of our 9-1-1 system today,” said Nancy Blair, E-Comm’s interim president and CEO.
“Modernizing our tools and technology is one of the RCMP’s key organizational priorities,” said Supt. Raina Siou, who oversees the BC RCMP’s operational communication centres.
The B.C. 911 callback is part of a larger upgrade. The province announced $150 million in 2023 to help pay for the switch.
When the change reaches your area
The BC RCMP has published this schedule for its dispatch centres:
- Oct. 26: BC RCMP headquarters in Surrey, and Island District in Courtenay
- Oct. 29: North District in Prince George, and Southeast District in Kelowna
- Nov. 3: Coquitlam and Langley RCMP detachments
Other communities, including those served by municipal police, are moving over on E-Comm’s schedule, with staggered switches continuing until the end of November. Check ecomm911.ca for your area.
What is not changing yet
You still cannot text 911 in B.C. Real-time text and video streaming are planned for a second phase of NG911, and the RCMP says they are not expected for several years.
That matters for families who are more comfortable in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Mandarin, Tagalog or another language. When you call 911, say clearly which service you need (police, fire or ambulance) and then the language you speak. Then stay on the line.
What your family should do
Nothing, unless your phone rings after a 911 call. If you get a B.C. 911 callback:
- Answer it. Do not ignore an unknown number right after dialling 911.
- Press 1 if you still need help. Press 3 if you dialled by mistake.
- Show children and older relatives what the B.C. 911 callback sounds like, so a recorded message does not scare or confuse them.
- Lock phone screens, and turn off emergency SOS shortcuts if they trigger by accident in pockets or purses.
If you dial 911 by mistake, the best thing is to stay on the line and tell the call taker it was an accident. Hanging up will trigger a callback.
Keep 911 for emergencies only. For non-emergencies in Surrey, call Surrey Police Service at 604-599-0502. Read the BC RCMP announcement for full details, and see more Surrey news from StudioX News.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
