NG9-1-1 Takes a Major Step Forward in Canada: National Governance and Coordination Workshop a Success
CITIG in partnership with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Canada and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Canada proudly hosted a two-day workshop on June 10 and 11, 2013 in Ottawa designed to chart the future of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) governance and coordination in Canada. Follow this link for full details. Full workshop proceedings to be posted soon.
On June 13, 2013 at the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada's annual conference in Saint John, New Brunswick, CITIG Secretary, Superintendent Greg Furlong, Ottawa Paramedic Service and Executive Director Lance Valcour announced the creation of CITIG’s new “Action NG9-1-1” initiative (see presentation). Similar to what CITIG created in 2010 when they announced “Action 700” (www.action700.ca), Action NG9-1-1 will encompass a wide range of communications and marketing efforts including a new Web site with strategic resources such as a one pager, briefing notes, sample presentation and FAQs. CITIG will also leverage Social Media, regional presentations and related communications efforts. For more on Action NG9-1-1 please go to www.NG9-1-1.ca, follow @CITIG_Canada and #Action_NG911 on Twitter or join the CITIG discussion Group on LinkedIn.
Canada-U.S. Enhanced Resiliency Experiment (CAUSE II) Webinar
On June 20, 2013 from 3:30 to 5:00pm EST, join leaders from Defence R&D Canada - Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS) and the Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to learn about:
- How the Beyond the Boarder initiative addresses public safety and situational awareness interoperability;
- CAUSE II objectives, approach, and participants;
- Tools and technologies involved; and
- Lessons learned and future plans for furthering cross-border shared situational awareness.
To register for this free webinar, visit this link.
Highlights Report on Stakeholder Perceptions Regarding the Proposed 700 MHz Broadband Public Safety Network now Available for Download
From March 8 to 25, 2013, CITIG conducted an on-line survey designed to collect basic information from municipal and regional public sector agencies regarding awareness and views about the current state of public safety wireless data usage as an aid in planning for a transition to a new public safety wireless broadband network. The survey was geared toward anyone at the municipal or regional level whose agency may one day need access to a public safety wireless broadband network (i.e., responders, public safety agencies, emergency management users, etc.). Click on this Link to see the Highlights Report.
Draft Report from Operational Planning and Management of Public Safety Events Workshop now Available
CITIG and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) presented the Operational Planning and Management of Public Safety Events Workshop in Toronto from February 18 to 20, 2013. The workshop was designed to bring together Incident/Public Order/Tactical/Event Commanders, Operational Planners, Crowd Management Team Leaders and key stakeholders responsible for planning events, whether small or large, to begin the process of developing a set of national best practices. Download the workshop proceedings here.
CITIG 7 Update: Registration Open, Exhibiting/Sponsoring Opportunities Available and More!
Join us for Canada's premiere communications interoperability event from November 24 to 27, 2013 in Vancouver. The Seventh Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop, widely known as CITIG Seven, will again bring together a broad base of public safety and emergency management practitioners to develop a mutual understanding of the key voice and data interoperability issues facing today's public safety sector. Want to attend? Click here to register online. Want to be an exhibitor or sponsor? Download the recently released Contribution & Exhibit Package. In either case, do it early — all past workshops have sold out!
From early adopters leading the effort to those still in discovery mode, you will be put to work! CITIG Seven is the only comprehensive, highly interactive event in Canada dedicated to addressing key voice and data interoperability issues facing today's public safety sector.
CITIG Response to CRTC Consultation on 9-1-1
CITIG's response to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) call for comments regarding the Appointment of an Inquiry Officer to review matters related to 9-1-1 is now available at this link. The response -- created in consultation with a wide range of public safety stakeholders -- includes 13 recommendations that will help pave the way for Canadian implantation of Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1, a digital version of the existing 9-1-1 system. Download the accompanying media release here. See our NG9-1-1 page for more details.
Interoperability Strategy for Ontario Released
The Province of Ontario Interoperability Task Group (POINT) has developed and released the Draft Interoperability Strategy for Ontario. The strategy is based on (and aligns with) the Communications Interoperability Strategy for Canada and Action Plan by building on the fundamental principles of Governance, Standard Operation Procedures, Technology, Training & Exercises, and Usage. Please download your copy today!
A component of the Interoperability Strategy for Ontario is published in the form of the Ontario Assessment of Interoperability Systems (OASIS). OASIS is a self-assessment interoperability tool that identifies interoperability challenges from individual agencies through to provincial capabilities. Oasis utilizes all five lanes of Interoperability Continuum as the basis for gap analysis and provides more granularity than the National model allowing for a bottom-up approach to interoperability solutions.
This site is administered by volunteers committed to advancing public safety communications interoperability
and kindly hosted by the York Regional Police Service.