Port Colborne, Ontario, residents now have a more advanced emergency response system following a technology upgrade that launched on March 4, 2026. The St. Catharines Fire Services communications centre, which handles dispatch for the City of Port Colborne and 35 other municipalities, has officially moved to Next Generation 911.
This new system replaces older technology with a digital platform that provides more precise location data. Better mapping tools help dispatchers identify exactly where a caller is located, which can lead to faster response times during emergencies.
The Ontario government provided more than $4 million to support the technical transition at the regional dispatch hub. This funding helped move the system from old analogue lines to a modern internet-based setup that is more reliable and capable of handling detailed information.
While callers will still dial 911 as usual, the updated system creates a foundation for future features like sending photos or videos to emergency operators. This upgrade is part of a larger effort to modernize emergency services for residents throughout the province.
