News Release Archive
NEWS RELEASE (CNS660) -->> ENVIRONMENT--911 SERVICE ARRIVES IN CAPE BRETON OCTOBER 28 ENVIRONMENT--911 SERVICE ARRIVES IN CAPE BRETON OCTOBER 28 ----------------------------------------------------------------- The security of 911 service will be available to everyone on Cape Breton Island Oct. 28. "The 164,000 people of Cape Breton will have one number service connecting them with police, fire and ambulance services," Environment Minister Wayne Adams, minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act, told a media briefing in Sydney. "No longer will people have to remember a multitude of numbers for various emergency services. You will just call 911 and know help is on the way." he said. The 911 service will bring together over 80 fire departments, 12 ambulance facilities and 22 police services. There will be two public service answering points (PSAPs). Calls originating within the area patrolled by the Cape Breton Regional Police Service will be handled by the 911 centre at regional police headquarters. Emergency calls from the part of Cape Breton County served by the RCMP as well as Richmond, Victoria and Inverness Counties will be handled by the RCMP telecommunications centre in Sydney. The expansion of service to Cape Breton is happening more than two months ahead of the original scheduled date of Dec. 31. Mr. Adams cited the high level of cooperation between Municipal governments, EMO, MT&T and the various emergency services for the steady progress. "This shows the level of commitment that's been such a characteristic of the Cape Breton 911 team," said Mr. Adams. With the inclusion of Cape Breton, 55 per cent of the population of Nova Scotia will have access to enhanced 911 service. The remaining areas of Lunenburg County, West Hants and Halifax Regional Municipality will join the 911 system by the end of the year. -30- Contact: Paul McEachern 902-424-2575 trp Oct. 15, 1996 - 10:05 a.m.