Written By David Gomez
MIDDLESEX COUNTY – As part of an ongoing national modernization effort, Middlesex County Council received an update on July 8 regarding preparations for the rollout of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1), a digital system designed to improve emergency response services across Canada.
The initiative aims to replace the current analog infrastructure with a digital, IP-based system that is heavily reliant on GIS (Geographic Information System) data. NG 9-1-1 will allow for enhanced location accuracy and enable communication methods such as text, images, and video.
“Over 80% of 9-1-1 calls now come from mobile devices,” said John Elston, Safety and Standards Officer for Middlesex County. “We have to be ready for that.” The original implementation date of March 4, 2025, was postponed to March 31, 2027, to accommodate nationwide delays, including pandemic-related setbacks and supply chain issues.
Elston explained that the County conducted a readiness assessment in collaboration with ESRI between late 2023 and 2024. “Overall, the county is in good position with the data quality and information systems management,” he said, while noting that work remains on quality assurance and data submission timelines from local municipalities.
The system’s success depends on coordinated roles between three main stakeholders: municipalities (as data owners), the County GIS team (as data custodians and aggregators), and emergency services and Bell Canada (as data users and consumers). Emergency responders currently receive quarterly updates, but this frequency will increase as the new system approaches full implementation.
One major visible change will be the introduction of updated 9-1-1 address signs, which now include both the property number and road name to reduce confusion in emergencies. “Having the road name included on the 911 sign is truly enhancing emergency services,” said Elston. These new signs are already being phased in by Lucan Biddulph and North Middlesex.
The County also plans to hold educational sessions for municipal staff, developers, and consultants to ensure compliance with updated addressing guidelines. Councillor Sue Clarke emphasized the scale of the undertaking.
Council received the report for information with unanimous approval.
