E-Comm in Vancouver is now answering 911 calls from the mid-Island.
The organization already handles 911 for the Lower Mainland and several other areas of BC.
Officials from the City of Nanaimo along with the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo Regional Districts say joining E-Comm will provide a more reliable service, and save some money.
Jody Robertson of E-Comm says leading up to the change-over they made dozens of test calls from cell phones and landlines in various parts of the region, yesterday morning.
She says the switch, at 9:15am, went off without a hitch and the first real 911 call came in about 10 minutes later. It was a person needing an ambulance.
Robertson says although it’s E-Comm operators picking up the phone now, dispatching emergency crews will continue to be handled by RCMP, BC Ambulance and Fire Departments under their existing systems.
At the same time as the change to E-Comm has been happening, RCMP have been moving their dispatch center from Nanaimo to Courtenay.
RCMP say the 21 civilian employees in Nanaimo have all taken jobs in Courtenay and the shift will be completed November 30th.
