Greater Sudbury Joins Province-Wide Campaign to Combat 9-1-1 Misuse

The City of Greater Sudbury and Greater Sudbury Police Service have joined the first-ever province-wide campaign to tackle 9-1-1 misuse, an issue that continues to strain emergency services. The Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC) officially launched the "When Every Second Counts" campaign today, aimed at reducing non-emergency 9-1-1 calls and educating the public on proper 9-1-1 use.

In 2024, there were 72,532 9-1-1 calls in Greater Sudbury. Of those, 18,115 calls were abandoned. Police services across Ontario report that nearly half of all 9-1-1 calls are for non-emergencies, including accidental dials, hang-ups and frivolous inquiries.

9-1-1 should be used only for situations requiring immediate assistance from police, fire services or paramedics due to a threat to life or property. This includes medical emergencies, fires, crimes in progress or serious vehicle collisions.

As part of the "When Every Second Counts" campaign, taking place alongside Emergency Preparedness Week, residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with alternative non-emergency numbers:

• For non-urgent police matters, call the Greater Sudbury Police Service non-emergency line at 705-675-9171.  
• For municipal services or bylaw complaints, call 311 or visit www.greatersudbury.ca.  
• For non-urgent health advice, call Health Connect Ontario at 811 or 1-866-797-0000.  
• For mental health support, call the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline.

If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Stay on the line and inform the operator it was an accidental call.  

For more information about the campaign and resources on proper emergency call usage, visit www.wheneverysecondcounts.ca.

Quotes

“Community safety and well-being are at the heart of everything we do. Every time someone calls 9-1-1 for a true emergency, they are helping to ensure that critical resources are available when seconds count. But when 9-1-1 is used for non-emergencies, it can delay the response to someone in real, immediate danger. By using 9-1-1 responsibly, you are not only protecting yourself — you are protecting your neighbours, your loved ones and your entire community. Remember: 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. Together, we can keep our community safe and ensure help is there when it’s needed most.”

• Sara Cunningham, Greater Sudbury Police Chief

“Every second counts in an emergency and ensuring our 9-1-1 lines are available for life-threatening situations is critical for community safety. Calls about non-urgent matters like noise complaints, bylaw issues or accidental dials can delay help for someone facing a genuine crisis. We urge residents to learn when to call 9-1-1 and when to use alternative numbers.”

• Joseph Nicholls, General Manager of Community Safety and Chief of Fire and Paramedic Services, City of Greater Sudbury

"Educating our residents on the correct use of 9-1-1 is a vital step in optimizing our emergency response and ensuring our teams can focus on genuine, life-threatening situations. This initiative directly contributes to a safer community and more efficient use of our critical resources."

• Shari Lichterman, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Greater Sudbury

About ESSC

The Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC) is a joint committee of the municipalities that comprise the Big City Mayors of Ontario (BCMO), the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO) and the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards (OAPSB). Membership consists of Chief Administrative Officers and City Managers from regions and municipalities involved in emergency services and municipal budgets, providing advocacy, background information and research on emergency service costs.