GNWT Celebrates Public Safety Telecommunicators Across the NWT

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Every year during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community are honoured. This year from April 12 to 18, 2026, we are celebrating the dedicated professionals behind NWT 9-1-1, along with the many other emergency services dispatchers across the NWT who help connect residents to emergency assistance when every second matters.

Every day, public safety telecommunicators support emergency response across the Northwest Territories by answering calls, assessing urgent situations, dispatching the appropriate services, and providing critical guidance to callers until help arrives. Their work is often unseen by the public, but it is essential to ensuring residents and visitors across the territory can access timely emergency support.

In 2024-2025, NWT 9-1-1 received 16,916 total calls of which 12,039 were emergency calls involving incidents such as medical emergencies, fires, requests for police, and other urgent situations. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, telecommunicators deliver calm, professional support in high-pressure moments and help maintain a reliable link between the public and emergency responders.

The GNWT recognizes the important contribution public safety telecommunicators make to community safety across the Northwest Territories and reminds everyone to call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Quote

"This National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, I would like to recognize the professionalism, skill, and dedication of the dispatchers and call takers who support emergency response across the Northwest Territories. Their work is critical to ensuring that NWT residents can reach emergency services when they need them most. I also want to acknowledge the strong collaboration between NWT 9-1-1 and our emergency service partners, whose coordinated efforts help ensure safe communities for northerners."

- Vince McKay, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs

Quick Facts

• National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is observed annually during the second week of April to honour the thousands of men and women who answer emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals, and provide life-saving assistance to the public.
• In 2024-2025, NWT 9-1-1 received 16,916 total calls, including 12,039 emergency calls.
• NWT 9-1-1 telecommunicators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• The service operates from the centralized NWT 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centre, supporting all 33 communities in the territory.
• Telecommunicators support multiple emergency response partners, including RCMP, ambulance services, fire departments, and local emergency management teams.
• For non-urgent health advice, residents can call 811 to speak with a registered nurse.
• NWT 9-1-1 telecommunicators are trained to provide real-time guidance in critical situations, including medical emergencies and fire responses.
• Services are available in English and French, with access to interpretation support for more than 200 other languages and dialects, including Indigenous languages.

Related Links:

• 9-1-1 in the NWT | Municipal and Community Affairs
• NWT 9-1-1- 2024-25 Annual Report | Municipal and Community Affairs

For media requests, please contact:
Peter Tah
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
[email protected]
867-767-9162 ext. 21012