safety professionals

E-Comm representatives joined public safety communications agencies across Canada at the 30th annual Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) national conference and the 12th Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop (CITIG) from November 5-8 and December 2-5, respectively.

Both events provided industry experts and dedicated professionals the opportunities to share ideas and discuss industry topics through a wide variety of presentations related to public safety communications.

Among the sessions at APCO, E-Comm Report Agents Shari Thomas and Meghan Valli presented a seminar on the “Impacts of Dementia in Public Safety,” providing an overview of dementia and Alzheimer’s, information on how to recognizing a person with the illness and how to manage such calls.  Joining them at the conference to represent E-Comm were Fire Training Specialist Melissa McPherson, Enterprise Systems Technologist Robert Wong and Emergency Communications Centre Supervisor George Raitt.

“APCO was a great opportunity to learn about how other agencies are working with P25 wireless radio technology, Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) and other IT projects,” said Wong.

E-Comm representatives also attended and presented at CITIG, an event focused on major industry topics such as Public Safety Broadband, NG9-1-1 and interoperability issues facing today’s public safety sector. Aligned with the conference’s theme, E-Comm’s Vice-President of Technology Services Mike Webb, Wireless & Telecom Services Director Brian Ackles, Fire Services Director Dave Mitchell and Senior Wireless Service Delivery Manager Gord Kirk participated in a breakout session on the topic of B.C.’s regional interoperability—highlighting the importance of a secure radio network between partners and agencies.  A number of
E-Comm user agencies also attended, including Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, Vancouver Police Department and Saanich Fire Department.

“It’s always important to connect and share ideas with our counterparts across the public safety community,” said Webb.  “We can all learn from each other best practices and new approaches for the delivery of essential communications services.  Ultimately, it is about developing the best ways for first responders to communicate with each other as they fight crime, safe lives and protect property.”