Hawkesbury and United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) councils are proceeding with a plan which could eventually double the number of staff at the regional fire dispatch centre.
The Town of Hawkesbury operates fire dispatch services for the UCPR. In return, the UCPR reimburses the town for the costs of operations.
According to a report prepared by Hawkesbury Director of Public Safety/Fire Chief Brian Wilson which was presented to council on Monday, November 10, the upcoming transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) technology, it has become necessary to increase the staffing within the fire dispatch to a minimum of two dispatchers per shift, operated 24/7/365, and to create a dispatch supervisor position to oversee all operations within the dispatch centre, ensuring consistency, training of all staff, scheduling, high service level standards, proper auditing and reporting, along with assisting the Fire Chief with attracting and retaining new dispatch clients.
On October 22nd, Wilson appeared before UCPR Council and recommended that it accept and approve the proposed 2026 Fire Dispatch Budget as presented and include it in the UCPR 2026 Operating Budget, that it authorize the Town of Hawkesbury to begin the process of increasing staffing within the Fire Dispatch Centre as outlined in the report, and that UCPR Council direct UCPR Administration to begin the process of reviewing and updating the Fire Dispatch Communications Service Agreement for renewal in 2027.
Currently, there are four full-time dispatchers on staff. The proposal is to increase the number to eight. There is currently one part-time dispatcher. That number is to be increased to two. A dispatch supervisor position would also be added. The salary budget for the dispatch centre is projected to increase from $486,321 in 2025 to $1,005,000 in 2026.
UCPR Council deferred its decision until October 29, when Wilson returned with a supplementary report to UCPR Council. At that meeting, a resolution was adopted providing consent for the Town of Hawkesbury to begin increasing the staffing levels at the dispatch centre, and to authorize the total 2026 dispatch budget of $1,191,200 for 2026 for inclusion in the 2026 UCPR budget. The total increase in the fire dispatch budget for 2026 is $578,402 and includes the cost of salaries and employee training.
Hawkesbury is currently anticipating the transition to NG9-1-1 in early 2026 and needs to have the appropriate staffing in place by that time.
At the Hawkesbury Council meeting on November 10, Councillor Jeanne Charlebois noted it is the only fully bilingual dispatch service in Ontario.
“We are the leaders,” she commented.
Councillor Julie Séguin voted against the recommendation to proceed with increasing the number of staff at the Fire Dispatch Centre.