A new local service will take over the answering of 911 calls in 2026.
Emergency calls made in Fraser-Fort George, Bulkley-Nechako, Cariboo and Kitimat-Stikine regional districts will be handled by a Prince George-based service called Fraser-Fort George 911, the regional district announced Wednesday, Jan. 22. The service will assess the nature of each emergency and then direct callers to the appropriate police, fire, or ambulance dispatch centres.
“This transition will allow us to offer a more localized, autonomous 911 service, better responding to the unique needs of northern communities,” said Lara Beckett, chair of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, in a press release.
Since 2014, the regional districts have relied on Vancouver-based Emergency Communications for BC Inc. (E-Comm) to handle 911 calls. Beginning in 2026, all emergency calls will be answered in Prince George, centralizing the service in the Fraser-Fort George district.
“This move will not only improve service, but it will also bring job opportunities and economic benefits to the region,” said Mark Parker, chair of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako.
The decision to shift services is also motivated by rising costs. “As the cost of 911 services increased, we had to find a more financially sustainable option for our residents,” said Margo Wagner, Chair of the Cariboo Regional District.
In 2024, the four regional districts saw a combined total of 104,476 911 calls. The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George accounted for 47,671 calls, while the Cariboo Regional District had 23,013, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine recorded 19,591 and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako had 14,201 calls.
“We are excited for Fraser-Fort George 911 to bring its local knowledge to improve the emergency response experience for our residents,” said Cyra Yunkws, chair of the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine.
Despite the change in call answering, emergency calls will continue to be routed to the same dispatch centres, including the RCMP Operational Communications Centre in Prince George for police calls, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s Fire Operations Communications Centre for fire and rescue and the BC Ambulance Service in Vancouver, Victoria, and Kamloops for medical emergencies.
