The Camrose Police Service has finished a five-year upgrade to its 911 communications centre, making the emergency system faster and more dependable for residents in the city and surrounding area.
On August 11, 2026, the local police service officially moved its primary emergency call centre to the Emergency Services Internet, an advanced Internet Protocol based network built specifically for emergency telecommunications. The move completes a major restructuring project that included a new backup 911 facility, so calls can keep getting answered even during power outages or other emergencies.
The new setup also brings in a next generation 911 call handling system and aligns local dispatch procedures with nationally recognized standards for police and fire response. That means when someone calls 911 in Camrose, the system will be better prepared to handle both voice calls and future emergency communication tools.
Inspector Rene Brisson, who oversees the 911 centre and IT operations, called the upgrade a milestone. “This achievement represents years of planning, collaboration, and dedication by numerous individuals and partner organizations,” Brisson said. “Our investment in modern emergency communications infrastructure ensures that our community continues to receive reliable, efficient, and future ready 911 services.”
Inspector John Corbett credited the communications centre staff and IT team for their work during the transition. “I am extremely proud of our Communications Centre staff and IT team for their dedication and tireless work in achieving this milestone,” Corbett said.
The project also puts Camrose ahead of a national deadline. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has ordered that older 911 networks be shut down by March 31, 2027. Many emergency call centres across the country are not expected to finish their own upgrades until late 2026, so Camrose is among the early adopters.
For local residents, the biggest change is peace of mind. The backup facility means 911 service should stay up even if the main centre goes down, and the upgraded network will support new emergency features as they become available across Canada.
