Sooke Council and Staff Activities 
October 2022 to November 2025
Don't know about you, but I can barely remember last week let alone 2022.  So i went through the tally of council and COW agenda items that I keep here at home and have compiled the following informal, imperfect and undoubtedly incomplete point-form list of the three years just past. I shared all this with council prior to a "Stick the Landing" workshop with consultant Christina Benty, a gifted facilitator and the latest in a series of local government pros who have stepped in to advise and guide us forward over my years on council. 

Eleven more months in this term to go: We as a collective -- staff and council, each with unique cultures and legislated requirements and responsibilities yet absolutely joined at the hip in what I heard described at last year's UBCM conference as a "truly wacky business model" -- have adoption of the Official Community Plan ahead of us along with tactical implementation of the Municipal Regional & District Tax (i.e., strategic use of the $350k+ in annual new revenue), planning for the connector road referendum (with possible additional questions), mid-term reviews of the transportation and parks masterplans, early work on a new Zoning Bylaw (pending OCP adoption) and much unpredictable else in the general course of our agendas.

The next general election day of Oct. 17, 2026 is not far off and the 336-day countdown is on ...  

Select Highlights 
(IMO, of course)
 
* Council Strategic Plan 2024-2027
* Hiring of Chief Administrative Officer Raechel Gray 
* Revived work on the Official Community Plan (March-July, 2023; February-Dec. 2025) 
* Progress on Urgent Primary Care Centre/BC Builds project on Lot A 
* Commitment to 24/7 Sooke RCMP unionized staffing 
* Commitment to 24/7 Sooke Fire Service unionized staffing 
* Commitment to long-term Asset Management Plan
* Fully staffed DOS Planning department led by Director of Planning Chris Marshall 
* Staff retention/recruitment policies and best HR practices  
* Council Code of Conduct Bylaw #889 adoption  
* Establishment of Community Economic Development & Land Use Committees
* Municipal & Regional District Tax established and underway (Nov. 1, 2025) 
* JDF and Olympic Peninsula Cross-Border Tourism Strategy 
* Sooke Region Business Services Cooperative (aka Shoreline) 
* Communications excellence – newsletters, press releases, microsites etc. 
* In-kind support of community groups by District staff 
* Connector route borrowing referendum on track for October 2026
* Little River Pedestrian Crossing and Trail 
* New Development Procedures Bylaw #900 (press release) 
* New Subdivision & Development Standards Development Bylaw #925
* Development Approval Procedures Review completed and implementation underway
* E-Comm service fees pushback 
* Council By-Election, July 12, 2025   
* MOU meetings with T’Sou-ke and School District #62 
- Initiatives possible under the Local Government Climate Action Program 
* Renewed Island Health engagement with Ayre Manor expansion
* Visit by the BC Seniors’ Advocate (Ayre Manor, Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Contact, SRCHN)   
* UBCM advocacy - 2022-2025 
* UBCM 2025 motions x 3: Utility Tax; Funding for 911; Human Rights Tribunal staffing 
* SEAPARC Strategic Plan 2025-2035
* CRD Regional Transportation Service 
* District of Sooke Accessibility Plan 
 
Financial Services
* 2023/27 plan adopted (April 24, 2023) 
* 2024/28 plan adopted (March 25, 2024) 
* 2025/29 plan adopted (April 7, 2025) 
* SOFI reports - 2022, 2023, 2024
* Budget Public Engagement 2023/24/25 
* Service Level reviews 2023/24/25
* Quarterly financial reports 
* Permissive Tax Exemption bylaw review 
* Asset Management Program, Policy and Financial Strategy
* General Asset Management Reserve Fund Bylaw #916 (established Oct. 21, 2024) 
* Travel & Expense Policy Update 
 
New Taxation Funding Priorities 
* Sooke RCMP  24/7 
* Sooke Fire Services 24/7 
* Establishment of the Asset Management Reserve Fund 
* CPI operational increases
* Union contract increases 
 
Bylaw and Policy 
* Fees & Charges Bylaw 
* Traffic and Highways Regulation (re: Silver Spray) 
* Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 
* Future Policing Costs Reserve Bylaw 
* Future Fire Services Reserve Bylaw 
* Growing Communities Reserve Fund 
* Animal Regulation & Impounding Bylaw (re: fines for wildlife feeding) 
* Development Procedures Bylaw #900
* Subdivision and Developments Standard Bylaw #925 
* Council Procedure Bylaw amendment – re: Bill 44 (public hearings – Feb. 26, 2024)
* Public Participation Policy 
* IT and Cybersecurity Policy
* Committee Structure Policy and Terms of Reference  
* Sign Bylaw review 
* Board of Variance Bylaw 
* Community Service Agreement Policy 
* Council Remuneration Bylaw review (in process) 
 
Transportation Master Plan 
* Designs advanced for the connector route
* Charters Corridor complete (tendered: July 24/2023) 
* Church Road Roundabout complete (tendered: July 24/2023) 
* Mid-Term TMP review pending (late 2025) 
* Continued staff and MOTT relationship re: plans for Idlemore intersection; right-turn lanes on Sooke Road; sidewalk expansion to Whiffin Spit 
* TMP Road Frontage Cross-Sections workshop (May 21, 2024) 
* Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure council presentation (April 8, 2024)  
* Draft Frontage Works Program (Sept. 9, 2024) 
* Report: Options for Engagement on Sooke Traffic Concerns (Sept. 9, 2024) 
* Receipt of Short-Term Traffic Solutions report from Sooke Traffic Committee (Sept. 23) 
* Charters/Hwy 14 Active Transportation Grant application (Oct. 28, 2024) 
* Federal active transportation grant application for connector (Feb. 24, 2025)                  
* BC Transit Wadams Way Transit Exchange (June 9, 2025) 
 
Operations 
* DAPR Assessment & Recommendations Report (Feb. 12, 2024)  
* DCC Minor Update (Feb. 26, 2024) 
* Development Procedures Bylaw #900  (adopted Nov. 12, 2024) 
* Renewed road maintenance contract, 2025/26, with Victoria Contracting 
* UBCM Asset Management Planning Grant 
* Flood Plain Regulation Amendment Bylaw #912 
* Bridge rehabilitation program 
* Federal Housing Infrastructure grant program application re: Town Centre & Sunriver Critical Sanitary Wastewater & Storm Infrastructure Project (March 24, 2025; six components)
* Subdivision and Developments Standard Bylaw #925 
* 2025 Sooke road atlas of cross-section designations 
 
Community Safety 
* Fire Service – Initial Attack Apparatus purchase 
* FireSmart Community funding (UBCM) 
* Community Wildfire Resilience Plan (Oct. 2023) 
* Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (UBCM grant, Jan. 2024) 
* Engine 2 replacement 
* Wildland Urban Interface FireSmart presentation 
* Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Adaptation (UBCM grant app, Sept. 23, 2024) 
* Emergency Management Plan (May 26, 2025) 
* Climate Hazard and Risk Assessment (UBCM grant app, July 28, 2025) 
* 24/7 Sooke RCMP coverage 
* Establishment of Sooke RCMP major crimes investigation unit 
* Coffee With A Cop public engagement opportunity  x 2
 
Community Investment
* Renewed Community Service Agreements with seven organizations (2022) 
* Community Grants (2023/24/25) 
* Patient deployment of remaining COVID relief funds to support work of Sooke Family Resource Society, Sooke Shelter Society and other orgs working with vulnerable citizens 
* Sooke Food Bank service agreement fee increase (incremental 20% annual increase) 
* Sooke Family Resource Society service agreement (2024 & 2025, $45k per year)

- Support from the Council contingency fund for ... 
* Sooke Boxing Club 
* Sooke Storm Fastball Team 
* Wounded Warrior Run
* EMCS basketball team 
* Sooke Lions – Canada Day, Santa Parade 
* Sooke Community Association – All-Sooke BBQ 
* Sooke Fall Fair 

* Development of a Community Investment Program (CIP) – in process 
* Sooke Legion Branch 54 – 100th Anniversary Commemorative Crosswalk - in process 
* Sooke Homelessness Coalition – JB council liaison 
* Sooke Age-Friendly Committee – JB council liaison 
* Sooke Community Health Summit (pending) 
 
 First Nations Relations
* Council attendance at T’Sou-ke council swearing in ceremony 
* Council to Council meetings x 2  
* David Drummond workshop re: T’mexw Treaty (March 18, 2024)
* Advocacy in support of T’Sou-ke Japanese Knotweed concerns (April 2025) 
 
Community Economic Development & Tourism 
* Request for inclusion in the Island Coastal Economic Trust (Jan. 2023)
* Membership renewals with South Island Prosperity Project (annual)  
* Sponsorship of Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards (annual) 
* Attendance at Island Economic Summit (Lajeunesse) 
* Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act adoption 
* JDF Community First Regenerative Tourism Plan (May 27, 2024) 
* REDIP grant application for Employment Lands Strategy (in process) 
* Downtown beautification microgrant program (pending 2026 budget deliberations) 
* JDF Cross-Border Tourism Strategy (Destination Canada) 
* Sooke Region Business Services Cooperative (aka Shoreline) 
 
Planning, Building & Development 
* Development Approvals Process Review
* Building Bylaw amendment – secondary suites (May 8, 2023) 
* Patrick Marsden correspondence  
* District withdrawal from membership in the Urban Development Institute 
* Zero Carbon Step Code discussions
* Interim Housing Needs Report 
* Affordable Housing Contribution Policy update (in progress) 
* Storage containers staff report (in progress) 
 
Climate, Parks and Environmental Services
* Sooke 2030 Climate Action Plan – Implementation (update: Jan. 2024) 
* Hiring of the Manager of Community Planning 
* Low Carbon Resilience lens confirmed as whole-of-org priority in Strat Plan 
* CAP Grant Stream supporting Sooke non-profits, i.e. Friends of Sooke Parks  
* Broom busting campaign by the District  
* Yard waste and broom drop-off at the works yard 
* Investigation of Ella Stream impacts re: ViewPointe Estates 
* Bear and Raven public art at Ravens Ridge Park & Sooke Potholes
* Ed Macgregor Park fencing upgrades  
* Ravens Ridge Park Improvements (tender: Sept. 9; completed: late 2025) 
* Parkland Dedication – 7350 West Coast Rd. (Erinan Estates future phases) 
* Whiffin Spit Management Options Assessment Report 
* Memorial Wall staff report 
 
Advocacy 
* Minister of Municipal Affairs re: Kaltasin sewer extension (UBCM 2023) 
* Minister of Health re: Community Health Centre (UBCM 2023) 
* Solicitor General re: Integrated Major Crimes Unit (UBCM 2022, 2023, 2024) 
* Ministry of Citizen Services re: telecommuting hub (UBCM 2024) 
* Minister of Education re: seismic upgrades, need for new schools, safety issues at John Muir and all schools along highway (UBCM 2024)
* BC Seniors Advocate re: seniors needs in Sooke (UBCM 2024) 
* Minister of Agriculture re: farm hamlet proposal (UBCM 2025) 
* Agricultural Land Commission Chair re: farm hamlet (UBCM 2025) 
* Island Health re: Ayre Manor expansion (UBCM 2025) 
* Ministry of Health re: Urgent Primary Care Centre (UBCM 2025) 
* BC Transit re: 
* Mobile Youth Services Team funding x 2 (2023, 2024) 
* BC Housing re: Sooke Shelter emergency bed expansion needs 
* Crosswalk at Maple Ave. S. and Sooke Road 
 
Delegations to Council 
(chronological order from Nov. 2022) 
* Sooke RCMP x 10 Quarterly Updates
* Sooke Homelessness Coalition 
* The Village Initiative 
* Royal Roads City Studio program 
* Herb Haldane/SBA x 3 – building processes 
* Chris Zmuda - preventing tax increases x 2  
* CREST Emergency Communications 
* Indigenous Prosperity Centre 
* West Coast Environmental Law – Sue Big Oil campaign 
* Bill Dixon Mural at Cedar Grove Mall 
* SRCHN – Mental Health, Addictions & Substance Use Report 
* Royal Roads University – R&D Tourism Report 
* Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Society – progress report 
* Sooke Family Resource Society – service agreement 
* Laura & Shawn Paul re: 2170 French Road South 
* Transition Sooke/Sooke Food CHI re: community gardens 
* Vancouver Island Regional Library 
* BC Conservation Officer Service/Bear Cub Conflict 
* Wild Wise Society re: conservation services 
* Jonathan Francoeur re: First Nations relations 
* Sooke Chamber of Commerce 
* SRCHN – Sooke Region Food Systems Network update  
* BC Hydro – Call to power 
* Fortis BC – Zero Carbon Step Code 
* South Island Climate Action Network – Zero Carbon Step Code
* Kiefer Elliot - Zero Carbon Step Code
* Sunriver Community Garden
* 606 Water Group 
* E-Comm - Oliver Gruter-Andrew 
* Royop CEO Jeremy Thal re: West Coast Road Development Project 
* Sooke Harbour Players 
* Wild Wise Society re: Wildlife Expo at EMCS 
* Jim Mitchell re: food truck sewer connection 
* Katie Oppen re: taxation 
* Construction Foundation of BC’s Mike Manhas re: The Forge, Langford 
* Community Social Planning Council re: Point In Time Count 
* Thrive Social Services re: Foundry Sooke 
 
 Development Permits (Council involvement)
* DVP – 6645 Sooke Rd. (West Urban) 
* DVP – 6671 Wadams Way (Aragon) 
* DVP – 5627 Woodlands Rd. 
* DVP – 6519 Throup Road (5 Oaks Developments) 
* DVP – 2109 Mowich Drive (Lajeunesse) 
* DVP – 2302 Phillips Road 
* DVP – 6442 Golledge Ave. 
* DVP – 1245 Silver Spray Drive 
* DVP – 2205 Tara Place 
* DVP – 7059 Briarwood Place 
* DVP – 7044 Maple Park Place (ViewPointe Estates) 
* DP Amendment – 6569 Sooke Road (Bayshore) 
* DVP – 2101& 2112 Ayum Road 
* DP Environmental – Little River Multi-Use Trail Project (DOS) 
* DP Form & Character (Subdivision) - 6671 Logan Lane
 
Zoning Amendments 
* 6519 Throup Road (increase size of C2 portion)
* 2104 Charters Road (R1 to RM2) 
* 2027 Maple Ave. (R1 to RM2) 
* 2072 Camden Place (R2 to RM2) 
* 5529 Croydon Place (RU4 to RU5) 
* 6676 Sooke Road (India Delight, C2 to CTC) 
* 2292 Phillips Rd. (RU2 to RM2) 
* 6588 Throup Rd. (R1 to RM2) 
* 6956 Grant Road W. (R1 to R2) 
* 2032 Maple Ave. S. (R1 & RU3 to RM2) 
* 2008 Murray Road (P1 to C2) 
* 1995 Caldwell Rd. (R1 to RM2) 
* 6727 West Coast Road (R1 to C2 – bowling alley) 
* 6557 Clairview Rd. (RM1 to R1) 
* 6579 Throup Road (R1 to RM2 – Francis Gardens) 
* 6490 West Coast Rd. (R1 to R3) 
* 2103 Townsend Rd. (R1 to RM5) 
 
* 2316 Church Road (SSA adjustment) 
* 2342 Kamaureen Place (strata conversion)
* 2170-72 French Rd. (strata conversion) 
* 5520 Sooke Road (strata conversion) 
* 6507 Water St. (SSA amendment) 
* 2043 Maple Ave. S (covenant amendment) 
* 2532 Sooke River Rd. (ALR sub-division recommendation) 
* 7295 Francis Rd. (ALR recommendation re: childcare facility) 
* 6660 Helgeson Rd. (ALR recommendation re: solar panels)
* 6520 Throup Rd. (ALR recommendation re: skate park) 
* 6626 Helgeson Rd. (ALR recommendation) 
 
Zoning Bylaw Updates
* Additional permitted uses for Service Commercial (C3) zone
* Inclusion of Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing legislation (June 24, 2024) 
 
Miscellaneous
* School District #62 MOU meetings x 2 
* Support for renovations to the Sooke Legion Cenotaph 
* Sooke Horseshoe Pitching Association license/terms of use
* Sunriver Community Garden license/terms of use 
* Natori Sister City relations 
* A.C.E. Memorial Project re: Paul Unwin carving donation
* Septic System Maintenance Program (unresolved - Sept. 25, 2023) 
* Community Works Fund 2025-2035 agreement signed (UBCM) 
* Sooke Harbour House liquor license
* District paused its X account 
 
Capital Regional District 
* SEAPARC – AAP for new skate park, heating/cooling upgrades
* SEAPARC – Strategic Plan 2025-35 
* Long-Term Biosolids Management Policy – accepted by Province, summer 2025 
* Regional Transportation Service – new
* Living-wage salary increases for Sooke Region Museum employees (started in 2025) 
* Biodiversity and Environmental Stewardship Service – new 
* Regional Foodlands Access Service – new 
* Performing Arts Facilities Service – new 
* Regional Water Supply Master Plan (2022)
* Water Supply Local Service Area - Establishment Bylaw 
* CRD Regional Water Supply DCC Program 
* Land Banking Service for CRD Housing Corp - Establishment Bylaw 
* CRD Animal Control Contract renewal 
* CRD Regional Water Supply DCC Program 
* Regional Parks Loan Authorization – Trail Widening & Lighting 

​

Update: Nov. 7, 2025

* BC Issues Independent Reports On E-Comm Cost Management (Province of BC) 

* Report Says BC Needs Clearer Oversight of 911 System (CBC News, Nov. 7) 

​Two new reports released by the Province ... 

* Emergency Communications Service Delivery Model in British Columbia  ... "Conclusion: There is a criticality associated with defining the future of the Provincial role within the emergency communications sector to address current state challenges, optimize operations within the sector, and ultimately protect public safety. Moving to a model where the Province actively manages the sector, with a role defined in legislation, will mitigate the risks currently observed with a complex stakeholder environment without a unified, clear governance framework."

* Independent Review of E-Comm Emergency Services in British Columbia. Outlines 17 findings and 26 targeted recommendations across three workstreams - governance, finance and operations. 

"Within E-Comm, the current 23-member Board has become too large to facilitate effective strategic decision-making. Its size has led to slower decisions, reduced engagement on critical issues, and challenges in maintaining institutional continuity.

Additionally, the executive leadership approach has tended to focus on immediate operational demands, with infrequent updates to the strategic plan.Financially, rising costs, unpredictable levies, limited transparency, and short-term budgeting cycles create uncertainty for funding agencies and hinder long-term planning. Operationally, the absence of defined benchmarks or performance targets makes it difficult to assess service quality. Quality assurance processes are primarily reactive, triggered by complaints or incidents rather than ongoing monitoring, and resilience gaps have been identified during major incidents.

To address these challenges, this report outlines 26 recommendations. One key recommendation calls for the Province to clarify and define its role in emergency communications and align legislative mechanisms to support clarity in roles and responsibilities, effective governance, performance management, and the ability to influence impacts to public safety. The remaining recommendations focus on E-Comm, emphasizing the need to strengthen governance, enhance financial planning and transparency, introduce clear performance measurement and quality assurance frameworks, standardize contracting practices, and improve redundancy and resilience." 


District of Sooke Council resolution endorsed at the UBCM Conference, Sept. 2023 

Endorsed EB 31 - Funding for 911 Services 
"Whereas the existing funding structure of the 911 emergency communications system does not account for internet and cellular revenues flowing to telecommunications companies, meaning that cellular users do not pay for the 911 services available primarily through cell phones; 

THEREFORE be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to work with local governments and telecommunications service providers to implement a 911 levy on cellular devices, to address current and future financial challenges associated with the delivery of 911 services." 

"The Resolutions Committee notes that the UBCM membership has consistently endorsed resolutions seeking the creation of a call answer levy on cellular devices to fund 911 emergency services (2023-SR2, 2021-EB7, 2012-LR1, 2011-B13, 2009-B10).

The membership also endorsed a more wide-ranging resolution 2022-EB42 which asked the Province to work with UBCM to develop a new provincial mandate and structure for 911 service delivery, with a focus on improving the governance, funding and operations. As well, the membership endorsed 2024-EB40, which asked for a governance review “...with a goal to assure reliable, affordable, and sustainable services for all communities.”


Original Post: March 8, 2025 

Who you gonna call when emergency strikes? 9-1-1 of course. And who's going to pay for this essential service? Effective April 1, we in Sooke must pay our share to the tune of what amounts to a 3.5% tax increase once a full year of billings kick in next year. Ouch, especially given that this is a first-time cost for the municipality. Previously and traditionally, 9-1-1 costs have been covered by Ottawa (30%) and the Province (70%).  

Seemingly another classic download of senior government costs onto local taxpayers. The Province, however, argues that, under the Provincial Municipal Police Unit Agreements and the Provincial Policing Service Agreement, local governments are wholly responsible for 9-1-1 services.  

Impacted South Island mayors are riled. As much as they appreciate the critical work, unquestioned professionalism and essential nature of the emergency call service, they reached a breaking point yesterday and sent a letter to Premier Eby stating that "we will not sign the E-Comm agreements or make any payments to E-Comm." This because of their "profound frustration and disappointment with the Province's refusal to delay the implementation of police dispatch costs to our communities' taxpayers."  

This letter follows at least five years of lobbying, advocacy meetings and a welcomed but finite three-year deferral on costs (aka "transitional funding") that ends on April 1. Most recently the Mayors wrote Eby in late January this year seeking the following commitments, all replicated in their March 7 correspondence: 

1. Maintain 100% transitional funding until the E-Comm review is complete and actionable solutions are implemented.

2. Address the funding inequity between South Island municipalities and other jurisdictions, ensuring consistent and fair treatment across B.C.

3. Introduce a telecommunications levy to offset 9-1-1 dispatch costs and align with funding models in other provinces.

4. Engage in meaningful consultation with our 10 South Island municipalities on this issue.

Solicitor General Gary Begg replied on Feb . 20 with a firm no.  He notes that under the Provincial Municipal Police Unit Agreements and the Provincial Policing Service Agreement, local governments are responsible for 9-1-1 services and hence this is not another download.  

.<clip> "In accordance with the terms of your Municipal Policing Unit Agreements, your communities must assume responsibility for all police dispatch costs. I also encourage you to finalize and sign your service agreements with E-Comm as soon as possible."  In the meantime, "an independent review and investigation into the governance, financial and operational effectiveness of E-Comm and 9-11 service provision in the province" began in December. When complete it will include future funding recommendations that may deliver relief. 

The 10 local governments are Colwood, Duncan, Ladysmith, Langford, Metchosin, North Cowichan, North Saanich, Sidney, Sooke and View Royal. All face significant tax hikes this year in paying for area 9-1-1 service based out of the South Island 9-1-1 Police Dispatch Centre that opened in Saanich in March, 2019.  In Sooke's draft 2025 budget, E-Comm is pencilled in at $254,927 -- or a 2.5% tax increase. That's to cover the nine-month period after charges begin on April 1. A full year next year takes the price tag to near $325k.  

A 2021 UBCM resolution asking the Province to introduce a levy on cell phone bills so as to underwrite 9-1-1 service. In response, the Solicitor General of the day wrote: "Ministry staff will undertake further work to explore funding mechanisms to support 9-1-1 services, such as the establishment of a call answer levy on wireless phones and, in recognition that this is a cross-ministry issue, will work with colleagues at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs ... 9-1-1 is an optional service and is delegated to municipalities. The communities have an option to use E-Comm or provide an alternate service."

E-Comm 9-1-1 President and CEO Oliver Grüter-Andrew is an invited guest of Sooke council on Monday night, and so I'm preparing this explainer as necessary homework. Cllr. McMath, a 9-1-1 employee herself, asked that this invite be sent and so we're counting on her to be present in leading the questions with her unique perspective. I'm confident we'll treat the messenger kindly and not shoot him given that the costing decisions are entirely down to decisions made the Province through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. 

Starter
This definitive Jan. 30 Capital Daily story by Sidney Coles. 

E-Comm 9-1-1
Website 
"E-Comm is the dispatch partner of more than 70 police and fire agencies. It owns and operates the largest multi-jurisdictional radio network of its kind in British Columbia, allowing first responders to communicate their essential messages effectively and securely. It provides a variety of secure, mission-critical technology services that support its own operations and those of its public safety partners."t + Public Education FAQ 

​Public Safety Answering Point 
"A call centre responsible for answering calls to 9-1-1 for police, firefighting, and ambulance services. The PSAP has trained 9-1-1 operators that are responsible for dispatching the appropriate emergency services or transferring calls to the appropriate emergency response agency for the dispatch of services." (CRTC)

Statistics 
​E-Comm is responsible for 99 per cent of the province’s 9-1-1 call volume. In 2024, E-Comm’s provincial 9-1-1 call volume was 2,049,856 calls. Of the 9-1-1 calls E-Comm directs to emergency services:

• 58 per cent of calls were for police
• 35 per cent of calls were for ambulance
• 7 per cent of calls were for fire

- Leadership Team (includes bios of the CEO and other management). Mr. Gruter-Andrew was hired in 2017 following positions with the Provincial Health Services Authority and the University of British Columbia. 

Legislation - E-Comm was established in 1997 through the BC Emergency Communications Corporations Act 

Strategic Plan (2025) + PDF 
"As an organization built literally from the ground up, E-Comm has achieved many milestones in the course of our 20 years of service. We have shown we can save lives and protect property through helping 9-1-1 callers and supporting our first responder partners. We have become leaders in emergency communications through our new digital radio system and other technical innovations. This leadership is grounded in our smart, capable people and their ongoing collaboration with our many partners, whom we respect and value. The dedication of those who work in emergency services cannot be overstated." 

Transformation Plan + 2024 update (released Feb. 28, 2025)
Highlights 
* 98% of 9-1-1 calls in 2024 were answered in 5 seconds or less,  the best service level since 2016.
* On behalf of the police agencies it serves, E-Comm exceeded service level targets for police emergency calls in the Lower Mainland, answering 90% of police emergency calls within 10 seconds and 91% on Vancouver Island.
* E-Comm also exceeded its service level for fire emergency, answering 94% of fire emergency calls within 15 seconds. 
* 80% of police non-emergency calls for Lower Mainland police agencies E-Comm serves were answered within 3 minutes or less (up from 63% in 2023 and 44% in 2022).

Short-Term Priorities
* Open and develop the Vancouver Island Operating Centre. Establish a second operating centre in the Lower Mainland to enhance overall operational resilience, including during a disaster." 

* Next Generation 9-1-1 Implementation: Deploy the technology upgrades associated with Next Generation 9-1-1. Review call-taking and dispatch practices at E-Comm. Provide province-wide thought leadership and change management to ensure a smooth transition to Next Generation 9-1-1."

NG911 
The new system – called Next Generation 9-1-1 – replaces decades-old analog technology in emergency communication centres with a digital network, allowing dispatchers to get to urgent calls faster and laying the groundwork for receiving texts, photos, and videos from callers in the future. (Global News) 

- About NextGen 911 
- CRTC role and oversight 
- NextGen 911 Backgrounder (Association of Public-Safety Communicators of Canada) 

- Updated timeline to March 2027 for NG911 implementation (CRTC decision, Feb. 28, 2025) 
"Telecommunications Service Providers have made the necessary upgrades and are prepared to move to NG9-1-1. However, the Commission has heard that most provincial, territorial, and municipal emergency service organizations will not be able to make the necessary upgrades in time.Accordingly, a majority of interveners in this proceeding have asked the Commission to extend the deadline to transition to NG9-1-1. These interveners include key 9-1-1 stakeholders, such as the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada. These interveners noted that unless the deadline is extended, Canadians in areas that have not transitioned to NG9-1-1 could lose access to 9-1-1 when existing networks are decommissioned. This would cause an unacceptable risk to public safety." 

Province of BC Investment
- Investment in 911 Network Supports Safer Communities (BC funding announcement, March 1, 2023)
"E-Comm, which handles 99% of B.C.’s 911 call volume, is leading Next Generation 911’s implementation in most B.C. municipalities. Pending approval by the legislative assembly, the Province’s $150-million investment will help offset local governments’ costs for transitioning to Next Generation 911 and be divided into two parts: $90 million will be provided to E-Comm for technological upgrades; and $60 million will be provided to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to defray costs, such as staffing, training and quality assurance. 

South Island Call Centres 
E-Comm 9-1-1 South Island Call Centre
- opened on March 5, 2019 
- serves the Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich and Oak Bay police departments as well as 11 RCMP detachments in CentralSouthern Vancouver Island, namely: Integrated Roadside Safety Unit, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan/Duncan, Outer Gulf Islands (includes Pender, Galiano and Mayne), Salt Spring Island, Shawnigan Lake, Sidney/North Saanich, Sooke, South Island Traffic Services, West Shore (includes City of Langford, City of Colwood, Town of View Royal, District of Metchosin, District of Highlands, Songhees First Nation and Esquimalt First Nation).
- calls for fire and ambulance are re-routed 

- At Saanich's BC 9-1-1 Centre, 'first-first responders' ready for anything (Times Colonist, Jan. 6, 2025) 
"The South Island 911 Police Dispatch Centre has 110 staff who handled about 100,000 police emergency calls and 160,000 non-emergency calls in 2024 alone. Since the $13.1-million facility was built by the Capital Regional District in October 2017 — and local police agencies consolidated their dispatching and emergency calls there — more than 1.4 million calls have come through" “We are often referred to as the first, first-responders,” operator Kuzi Mujakachi said. “Every second counts so we are trained thoroughly to navigate every situation and every call, whether it is de-escalating someone on the phone who is screaming to listening into the background noises and seeing what we can determine from this call, the nature of it, just from the audio that we’re hearing.” It is about being firm and compassionate at the same time, and getting the reason for the call and an address as quickly as possible to send help, she said. 

Vancouver Island Emergency Dispatch Centre, Langford 
BC Emergency Health Services oversight ... BC Ambulance Dispatch Centre 
Serving all of Vancouver Island, Powell River and the surrounding Gulf Islands, the Vancouver Island Dispatch Operations Centre in Langford receives on average 250-300 emergency calls per day.
​- Clinical Response Model 

Miscellaneous 
- Future Sooke taxpayer cost: Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU). Implementation date TBD with Sooke responsible for the costs (though Mayor Tait and council have repeatedly lobbied the Solicitor General for relief or a break of some kind.)  Initial estimate is $350k per year, i.e. a 3% tax hike likely to start in 2026.   Joining VIIMCU is an insurance policy of sorts that protects Sooke from one-time, usually six-figure investigation costs associated with murders and other major crimes.
 
- Emergency Communications Service Public Emergency Delivery (Ministry of Justice, 2015) 
Funding Questions 
- How does local government in your community currently fund 911 PSAP?
- Will local governments be able to fund these and enhanced services such as NG911 in the future?
- What funding model options exist and would be successful? Why or why not?
- With respect to existing funding for emergency communications, what works well, needs improvement, or could be done differently?

- 911 Central Island: Study of Call Taking Alternatives (2015) 

- North Island 9-1-1 
The Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) answers all 9-1-1 calls. PSAP is handled by E-Comm in Vancouver. The North Island 9-1-1 Corporation has an agreement with E-Comm to perform this function. E-Comm provides PSAP 9-1-1 call answering for the North Island 9-1-1 Corporation, the Metro Vancouver region and 25 other regional districts in B.C. E-Comm also provides dispatch services for 36 police and fire departments." 

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- E-Comm 911 Strategic Plan Priorities 
- Ministry of Health Standardized Hospital Colour Codes policy (2011)