By Chris Brown

NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK

‘My neighbour is plowing snow incorrectly!’ and other unnecessary 911 calls

Apr 12, 2021 | 1:14 PM

Canada is marking National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and recognizing the work of operational communications centres during emergencies people face.

However, Alberta RCMP say people are not always aware of what constitutes an emergency and requires a call to 911.

“Our teams work hard behind the scenes 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to manage incoming calls for service to keep our citizens and communities safe throughout Alberta,” say RCMP in a release. “Sometimes, it is interesting to review what shouldn’t be done in order to understand what is appropriate to do.”

Alberta RCMP provided some interesting calls that 911 operators received in the past year:

• “My phone settings are all in another language, how can I change it back?”
• “Can you bring me a hamburger? I am hungry and cannot drive!”
• “I need you to stop my teenage son from vaping!”
• “My neighbour is plowing snow incorrectly!”
• “The neighbour’s kids strum the guitar every time I go for a smoke. No matter what time of day, this has been ongoing for three months since the start of lockdown.”
• Multiple calls reporting suspicious satellites when SpaceX launched.
• After reporting that their airplane had been redirected from Edmonton to Calgary, a caller refused to exit the plane until their luggage was provided to them first.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

With more than 890,000 calls for service to 911 recorded in the past year, RCMP remind citizens to be mindful that emergency communications centres are busy at all hours with incoming calls about public safety. RCMP say 911 should only be dialed in true emergency situations – when public or personal safety is at risk or a crime is in progress.

Throughout this week, Alberta RCMP will share the above 911 calls on social media along with other information at @AlbertaRCMP on Twitter or the @RCMPinAlberta Facebook page, and follow #NPSTW2021. More information about the work of the OCC on the Alberta RCMP YouTube channel.