OPP celebrating national public safety communicators week

OPP News Release

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This week, OPP is recognizing its people - who are behind the scenes of every call - during National Public Safety Communicators Week.


Ontario has five Provincial Communication Centres answering calls and dispatching to emergencies. They also deal with non-emergency calls.


The centres are located in North Bay, Thunder Bay, London, Smiths Falls, and Orillia.


The coverage area of North Bay's communication centre is White River to the James Bay Coast, south along the Quebec border to Temiskaming and across to Almaguin Highlands, West Parry Sound, Manitoulin Island to Sault Ste. Marie and north to White River. PCC North Bay also has Central Emergency Response Bureau (CERB) contracts across all of Ontario; being the first point of contact for millions of Ontarians who dial 911.


Each communications operator undergoes testing, a panel interview, an intensive background check and psychological testing before being hired.


Call takers take part in a training course at General Headquarters in Orillia, learning the basics and train on job with a coach communicator for 140 hours before taking calls on their own. Dispatchers also attend a three week training course at Headquarters, and then are coached for 244 hours.


A communications officer is a high-stress job. OPP communicators take calls about lost persons, fights, robberies, domestic abuse and more. They are expected to remain calm and be the voice of reason when a lot of people fall apart. Our people come from varied walks of life; they represent men and women, highly educated and very experienced or very skilled individuals. Many of our members bring additional languages or experiences that enhance the officers’ ability to respond to a call.


We are a professional and diverse workforce that is the Benchmark of Excellence; skilled and motivated employees who are proud to dedicate themselves to the OPP and who represent the varied communities we serve. PCC’s moto “We are on every call.”

If you are interested in a career in communications, visit www.opp.ca for more information on opportunities.

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