911 Communications

Dialing 911 is the fastest way to get help in an emergency.

Our 911 dispatch provides regional emergency communication service for residents in southeast Alberta.

This includes Medicine Hat Fire & Emergency Services, the Medicine Hat Police Service and rural fire departments in Redcliff and the County of 40 Mile.

 Frequently asked questions
 
How does 911 work?

When a caller dials 911, the Medicine Hat 911 operator will ask “What is your emergency?”911 operators connects the caller to the proper agency the caller has requested.

911 operators are trained to help determine which agency is required in an emergency. This may be a call taken locally (Fire, Police) or transferred to another 911 agency (RCMP, EMS). The entire process usually takes less than 30 seconds.
Does Medicine Hat 911 receive a lot of unnecessary 911 calls?

Our 911 call centre receives numerous accidental 911 calls each day. One reason is because people have 911 saved in their smart phones in positions where keys may be pressed accidentally.

911 is not an information line and should be used only for emergencies. Information about disasters and major events will be shared by the City of Medicine Hat.
What happens if I dial 911 accidentally?

Please remain on the line. If you hang up, our 911 operators will call you back to confirm you are okay, or send police to check on you.

Accidental calls will not be charged a fee.
Why am I asked “what town or city?” Can't operators see I'm in Medicine Hat?

The Medicine Hat 911 Communications Centre is the public safety answer point (PSAP) for the City of Medicine Hat, Town of Redcliff, County of 40 Mile, Bow Island and the Town of Foremost.

This information is important to ensure we get you the best response in the least amount of time.
Why do they ask me all those questions? All I want is for them to send me help!

In an emergency, we need accurate and specific information to share with first responders. The questions we ask are designed to better understand the emergency, your safety, as well as the safety of our first responders.

Once your city or town and emergency is determined, fire, police and/or EMS services are notified.
 What are the most important things to know when calling 911?
  • Know your location (address, building name, or intersection)
  • Stay on the line and answer the questions to the best of your ability
  • If you call 911 by accident, stay on the line and let our operators know you are okay
  • 911 is not the place to call for the weather, power outages, municipal services, seasonal time change, or to call a tow truck or taxi. Please do not call 911 and ask for the ‘non-emergency' phone number.
I'm hearing impaired, how can I get in touch with 911?

Text to 911 is a service which allows you to communicate with 911 via text messaging.

911 is calling – join our team! 

Before police, fire, or ambulance crews arrive, it is the 911 Operators who are there—gathering critical information, calming the caller, delivering life-saving instructions, and dispatching the right emergency services. 

Covering an area of 7,411 square kilometers and working in 12-hour shifts, our local 911 Operators dedicate their lives to helping people they will never meet. 

But as a local 911 Operator, you will do even more: Coordinate special transit pickups, manage after-hours utility calls, handle bylaw issues, and respond to both emergency and non-emergency police calls for the City of Medicine Hat. You will be a part of the team that dispatches Medicine Hat Police and oversees all fire-related incidents in Medicine Hat, Redcliff, and the County of 40 Mile, and provides vital flight following for HALO.  

Is a career as a 911 Communicator a good fit for you? 

Being a 911 Operator is a calling. It’s less about training and experience and more about who you are. We are looking for people with the personality and qualities that set exceptional operators apart. If you are driven to help others, can stay calm under pressure, and make quick, sound decisions while multi-tasking, this role could be for you.

If you are comfortable working shifts that include nights, weekends, and holidays—and you are motivated to be there for people when they need it most—take our self-assessment to see if joining our team feels like the right fit.

Show me the assessment
Requirements 

Prior to applying, please ensure you are:

  • Able to commit to shift work covering days, evenings, nights, statutory holidays, and special events – all of which may include being called in on short notice
  • Eligible to work in Canada
  • Able to sit for up to 12 hours
  • Possess a grade 12 Diploma or GED
  • Free of criminal activity for 36 months (ie: no illegal drug usage, impaired driving, theft, etc.)
  • Able to complete a satisfactory pre-employment drug screening
  • Possess or willing to obtain a Standard First Aid/Level C CPR (Adult, Child & Infant)

Should you progress through the application process, you will also be required to:

  • Successfully complete an aptitude test and computer skills testing
  • Achieve security clearance, which includes polygraph testing
  • Complete Emergency Fire and Police Dispatching Courses (EFD, EPD)
  • Pass City of Medicine Hat hearing requirements
  • Satisfactorily perform in behavior testing and a behavioural descriptive interview process. This process addresses individual character attributes and your suitability to perform as a team member
Recruitment process 

Candidates will receive regular updates throughout the recruitment process to inform them if they have moved on to the next phase.

Phase One – Online Application 

Submit your application through our online portal, including all required documentation. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted via email to advance to Phase Two. 

Phase Two – Pre-Screening Call 

Shortlisted applicants will participate in a phone interview to discuss role requirements, expectations, shift scheduling, compensation, and next steps. Candidates who pass this phase will proceed to Phase Three.

Phase Three – Aptitude Test 

Candidates will complete an online aptitude test assessing skills such as multitasking, reading comprehension, typing speed, call summarization, and map reading.

Phase Four – In-Person Interview 

An in-person panel interview with behavior-based and situational questions.

Phase Five – Background Check, Assessment, and Final Decision 

Candidates progressing to this phase will undergo an initial background check, including: 

  • Police check 
  • Psychometric assessment 
  • 6-hour shift observation
  • Reference checks

At this time, Candidates will be sorted into one of three categories:

  1. Conditional offer: You will receive a conditional offer for the position, dependent on clearing final pre-employments
  2. Talent pool placement: Those who are deemed appropriate candidates, but are not offered the open position, will be placed in our talent pool. This means you are shortlisted for open positions that come up in the future and will not need to complete the full recruitment process again.
  3. Non-selection: Candidates who are determined to be unsuitable for the role will be informed at this time.

Phase Six – Pre-Employments

Candidates in this final phase will complete additional pre-employment requirements: 

  • Polygraph test 
  • Proof of Standard First Aid and CPR training 
  • Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) and Emergency Police Dispatch (EPD) training 
  • Hearing and vision tests 
  • Final police clearance 

Once these pre-employment steps are completed candidates are ready to begin their training! 
Apply now! 

View open positions here and submit your application via our online portal.

Show me