Niagara Region just got a major upgrade to its 911 system. On March 4, 2026, Niagara Regional Police, Niagara Parks Police, and St. Catharines Fire Services went live with Next Generation 9-1-1. It's the biggest change to how emergency calls work in this region in decades.
The old 911 system was designed for landlines. Back when everybody had a phone plugged into the kitchen wall, it worked fine. But nobody lives like that anymore. Most 911 calls come from cell phones now, and the old system was terrible at figuring out where those calls were coming from. It also couldn't handle text messages, photos, or video. Just voice. That's it.
NG911 is the fix. Bell and Motorola Solutions built it. Ontario put $7.7 million behind it. It's a completely new digital system running on IP instead of the old analog lines. If you live in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland, Fort Erie, or anywhere else in the Niagara region, this affects you. And if you've got a monitored home alarm system, it matters even more.
What Went Into This Upgrade
"The successful implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 marks a significant advancement in how we connect with those in need."
Chief Bill Fordy, Niagara Regional Police Service
Old 911 vs. Next Generation 911
Nothing changes about how you call. You still pick up your phone and dial 9-1-1. Same as always. What's different is everything that happens after that. The whole system on the other end got ripped out and replaced.
- Built for landlines in the 1960s
- Poor location accuracy for cell phones
- Voice only, no text or media
- Limited backup if systems fail
- Basic caller info, slow data transfer
- Police, fire, and EMS couldn't share data
- Aging analog hardware from the '60s
- Digital IP-based, built for modern devices
- GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth location accuracy
- Future: text, photo, and video support
- Stronger cybersecurity and backup systems
- Instant data sharing to dispatchers
- Police, fire, and EMS share info in real time
- Automatic callback for dropped calls
The location piece alone is worth the entire upgrade. With the old system, calling 911 from a cell phone could land you within a few hundred metres of where you actually were. Not great when seconds matter. NG911 pulls GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, and Bluetooth data to zero in on your real location. If you're calling from inside your Niagara Falls home or a St. Catharines business, dispatchers now get a much tighter fix on your exact address.
If you've got a home security system in Niagara, pay attention. When your alarm monitoring station dispatches police or fire to your address, that call runs through the same 911 system. Faster backbone means faster response at your door.
How NG911 Is Coming to Niagara
This isn't happening all at once. Three agencies went live on March 4th. The rest of the region will follow in phases as OPP, Niagara Falls Fire, and EMS make the transition.
Phase 1: Core Agencies Go Live
Niagara Regional Police Service, Niagara Parks Police, and St. Catharines Fire Services are now operating on the NG911 platform. Six Public Safety Answering Points across the region are active.
Phase 2: Remaining Emergency Services
OPP Tillsonburg Communications, Niagara Falls Fire Services, and Emergency Medical Services will transition to the NG911 platform. Dates to be confirmed.
Phase 3: Text, Photo, and Video
Real-Time Text for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers, live video calling with dispatchers, and the ability to send photos directly to 911. No timeline announced yet, but the system was designed to handle it from the start.
National context: The CRTC has mandated NG911 implementation across Canada with a deadline of March 31, 2027. Niagara is ahead of schedule. Many regions haven't started yet.
Which Niagara Communities Are Covered
The NG911 rollout covers communities served by the six Public Safety Answering Points across the Niagara Region. That includes:
If you live in any of these communities and call 911, your call is now handled by the new system. The phone rings the same way it always did, but the technology on the other end is completely different.
Force Security serves every one of these communities. We install home security systems and security cameras across Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Fonthill, Lincoln, Beamsville, Crystal Beach, and the entire corridor up to Hamilton and the GTA.
What NG911 Means If You Have a Monitored Alarm
If you've got a 24/7 monitored alarm system, here's why you should care about the NG911 upgrade. When your alarm goes off, the signal hits your monitoring station. The operator verifies it, pulls up your address, and calls police or fire. That call now travels through the new NG911 system instead of the old analog network.
More reliable network means fewer dropped dispatches. Better location data means first responders find the right address faster. And police, fire, and EMS can now share information between each other in real time, so the right people show up knowing what they're walking into.
Force Security uses ULC-listed monitoring, which is the highest standard in Canada for alarm response. Our monitoring station already dispatches directly to emergency services. NG911 makes that connection faster and more reliable. The entire chain from alarm trigger to police at your door just got tighter.
Down the road, when NG911 rolls out video and photo sharing, imagine what happens. Your video monitoring feed or security camera footage could go straight to dispatchers while the break-in is still happening. That's not live yet. But the system was designed for it from day one. When it gets turned on, the way police respond to a break-in or a fire in Niagara changes completely.
The Features Coming Down the Line
The NG911 system was designed to do a lot more than what went live on March 4th. These features aren't turned on yet, but the groundwork is there. Here's what Niagara residents can expect eventually.
Text-to-911
Send a text message to 911 when you can't safely make a voice call. If you're hiding during a break-in and can't speak, you'll be able to text your emergency. No timeline yet, but the system supports it.
Photo and Video to 911
Send photos or live video directly to dispatchers. See a suspect leaving your property? Send the camera footage straight to 911. Responders would know what they're walking into before they arrive.
Real-Time Text (RTT)
For deaf and hard-of-hearing callers, RTT replaces the old TTY system with something faster and more reliable. Characters appear as you type them, so dispatchers can start responding before you finish the message.
Live Video Calling
Two-way video between you and the dispatcher. Show them the fire, the injury, or the damage in real time. They can guide you through first aid or help assess the situation before units arrive.
When photo and video sharing goes live, the connection between your security cameras and emergency services gets a lot more direct. Right now, if your camera catches a break-in, you save the footage and share it with police after the fact. Eventually, that footage could go to 911 as the event is happening.
Make the Most of Faster Emergency Response
NG911 makes the system faster. But speed only helps if there's something triggering the call in the first place. If someone breaks into your house while you're at work, NG911 doesn't help unless your alarm system catches it and your monitoring station makes the call.
- Get a monitored alarm system. Door sensors, window sensors, motion detectors. When something trips, ULC-listed monitoring dispatches police through the new NG911 network. That's the fastest way to get help to your Niagara home.
- Install exterior cameras. HD security cameras covering all entry points give you footage of who's on your property and when. Right now that's evidence for police. In the future, it could go straight to 911.
- Add a smart doorbell. The Hamilton Mountain break-in suspect rang doorbells before forcing entry. A smart video doorbell catches that. You see it in real time, and you've got recorded proof.
- Set up smart locks. Smart locks with tamper alerts let you know the instant someone messes with your door. You can lock and unlock remotely and get a full access log.
- Don't forget fire and flood. NG911 improves fire response too. Monitored smoke and heat detectors dispatch fire services automatically. Flood sensors catch burst pipes before your basement is underwater.
A better 911 system is great news. But it works best when it's paired with technology that detects the problem and makes the call before you even know something's wrong. That's what professional monitoring does.
What NG911 Means for Your Business
If you run a business in Niagara, the same improvements apply. A commercial alarm system connected to ULC monitoring now dispatches through a faster, more reliable 911 backbone. Business video monitoring captures everything on your property, and access control tracks who enters your building.
Construction sites across the Niagara region are common targets for after-hours theft. Tools, materials, copper wiring. With NG911 improving emergency response, pairing your site security with AI-powered detection and monitored alarms gives you the best possible protection.
Niagara's Local Security Company Since 1988
Force Security has been protecting homes and businesses across the Niagara region for over 35 years. We're not a national chain with a call centre somewhere else. We're local. Our technicians live here, work here, and know the area.
- Real people answering the phone. No automated menus, no offshore call centres.
- No long-term contracts. We keep your business by doing good work.
- No cost upfront options to get a full system installed without a big expense.
- Every install done by our own certified local technicians.
- ULC-listed monitoring that dispatches through the new NG911 system.
- PowerG+ wireless technology for the most reliable, interference-free panels available.
Read our customer reviews, learn about our Readers' Choice Award, or meet the team.
Get a Free Security Assessment for Your Niagara Home or Business
We'll come to your property, find the weak spots, and build a system that works hand-in-hand with the new NG911 network. No pressure, no obligation.
Book Your Free AssessmentGet Your Free Quote
Tell us about your property and we'll put together a customized recommendation.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted by Force Security about your request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Next Generation 911 (NG911)?
NG911 is a digital, IP-based replacement for the old analog 911 system. It improves location accuracy for cell phone calls, adds cybersecurity protections, enables faster data sharing between police, fire, and EMS, and is built to support future features like text-to-911 and live video calling. Niagara Region went live on March 4, 2026.
Do I need to do anything differently when calling 911?
No. You still dial 9-1-1 the same way you always have. The changes are all on the back end. Your call gets routed through the new digital system automatically. The experience for the caller is the same, but the technology handling your call is faster and more accurate.
Can I text 911 in Niagara now?
Not yet. The NG911 system was built to support text, photo, and video messaging, but those features don't have an implementation timeline. For now, voice calls are the only way to reach 911. Future updates will enable text-based communication.
How does NG911 affect my home security system?
If you have a monitored alarm system, the dispatch from your monitoring station to emergency services now goes through the upgraded NG911 network. More reliable connections, better location data for first responders, and faster response overall. ULC-listed monitoring paired with NG911 is the fastest way to get police to your door in Niagara.
Which communities in Niagara are covered by NG911?
The initial rollout covers St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Pelham, Wainfleet, Grimsby, Lincoln, and West Lincoln. Additional services including OPP, Niagara Falls Fire, and EMS will join in later phases. Force Security serves all of these communities.
Proudly serving: Niagara Falls • St. Catharines • Welland • Fort Erie • Port Colborne • Fonthill • Lincoln • Beamsville • Crystal Beach • Hamilton • Ancaster • Binbrook • Smithville • Dunnville • Burlington • Mississauga • Brampton • Oakville • Ajax • Toronto • Brantford • Guelph • Kitchener • Port Dover • Acton • Aldershot