Kawartha Lakes joins first-ever province wide campaign to combat 9-1-1 misuse

Community NewsFenelon Falls
Written By Megan Barton

Kawartha Lakes – Kawartha Lakes has 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) has launched the "When Every Second Counts" campaign aimed at reducing non-emergency 9-1-1 calls and educating the public on proper use of 9-1-1.

Across Ontario, police services report that nearly half of all 9-1-1 calls are for non-emergencies, including accidental dials, hang-ups, and frivolous inquiries.

“All 9-1-1 calls in Kawartha Lakes are first answered by our Police Service’s Communications Centre, which serves as the Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for all 911 calls in the City,” said Chief Kirk Robertson, Kawartha Lakes Police Service. “In the last year, our PSAP received just under 30,000 9-1-1 calls. Our communicators aren’t just answering the phone—they’re simultaneously dispatching police and fire units, managing multiple radio channels, and coordinating emergency responses in real time. When people misuse 9-1-1 for non-emergencies, it diverts critical attention and resources. Every second counts when lives are on the line.”

When an ambulance is required, the call is transferred to ambulance dispatch. In 2024, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service responded to 13,836 calls for service, only 1,008 of those calls involved emergency (lights and sirens) transport to a hospital.

“The City of Kawartha Lakes is committed to ensuring our residents have access to the right information and resources,” said Paramedic Chief Sara Johnston. “By participating in this campaign, we are helping provide education on when to call 9-1-1 and when to use non-emergency numbers, so that emergency services remain available for those who truly need them.”

As part of the "When Every Second Counts" campaign, residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with alternative non-emergency numbers such as:

  • Kawartha Lakes Police Service (in Lindsay or Ops): 705-324-5252

  • OPP CKL Detachment (outside of Lindsay or Ops): 1-888-310-1122

  • Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service: 705-324-5731

  • Kawartha Lakes Customer Service: 705-324-9411

  • After-hours municipal emergency: 1-877-885-7337

  • Community and social resources: 2-1-1

  • 24/7 Health Care via phone: 8-1-1

  • City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team: 705-328-9853

  • Speak to a local Pharmacist

For other useful municipal contacts, visit our Who to Call, When page.

For more information about the campaign and resources on proper emergency call usage, visit the When Every Second Counts website.

Megan Barton http://bartoncreative.co
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