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Vancouver, B.C.—The Board of Directors of E-Comm, British Columbia’s largest emergency communications centre, today announced the appointment of Oliver Grüter-Andrew as its new President and Chief Executive Officer effective September 18, 2017. The selection comes after a five-month nationwide search to find the right candidate to lead E-Comm and the critical emergency communications services and infrastructure it provides, into the future. Grüter-Andrew succeeds incumbent CEO David Guscott, who announced his retirement earlier in the year after seven years’ service.

Grüter-Andrew is currently Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and previously served as CIO for the University of British Columbia (UBC). He brings to E-Comm 25 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors where he has been responsible for implementing and managing the shared services, systems and technologies that support millions of people in their everyday lives.

“Oliver is an established and well-respected strategic leader in our province who understands the value of strong and collaborative partnerships,” says Doug Campbell, E-Comm Board Chair. “High-quality service, robust technology and secure systems are the foundation of E-Comm, but Oliver understands that it’s our staff and partners who are the heart of saving lives and protecting property. That makes him the perfect fit for us, and for public safety.”

As CIO for both UBC and PHSA, which includes acting as CIO for longtime E-Comm radio system user BC Emergency Health Services (EHS), Grüter-Andrew has led large cross-functional teams through organizational, strategic and technical change and has proven to be a successful and trusted leader who brings a strong reputation for developing people and inspiring innovation and teams.

“As public safety infrastructure, technologies and services continue to evolve in the coming years, E-Comm is well positioned to build on its leadership role in developing the most effective and resilient emergency communications systems in Canada,” explains Campbell. “The Board and I could not be more pleased with the Oliver’s appointment to this critical role at this very important time. He’s a true visionary.”

With a dedicated staff of 500, E-Comm operates the largest 9-1-1 call centre in B.C., handling approximately 1.36 million 9-1-1 calls per year for Metro Vancouver and 25 other regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George. E-Comm also provides emergency call-taking and dispatch service for 35 police and fire agencies in southwest B.C. and mission-critical technology that supports first responders, including the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in B.C.

“I am very aware of the contribution E-Comm makes every day to communities across B.C. and I am anxious to start working with my new colleagues to advance many impressive accomplishments,” says Grüter-Andrew. “9-1-1 call-answer and dispatch, the E-Comm radio system and its other public safety technologies are lifelines. I look forward to working with and supporting the many E-Comm staff who are responsible for them, so that together, we ensure first responders and British Columbians benefit from the best possible service. It is a credit to the E-Comm Board, staff and the organization’s many partners within police, fire and ambulance, that it has become a North American leader in emergency communications.“

As E-Comm CEO, Grüter-Andrew will also serve as CEO of PRIMECorp, the organization that manages PRIME-BC, the information management system used by police agencies across B.C. to access data and other critical information that helps them prevent and solve crime. It is the only multi-jurisdictional police records management system in Canada covering an entire province and has been described as unique, leading edge and a model for sharing police information in North America. PRIMECorp has 14 staff and its own Board of Directors.

“On behalf of the PRIMECorp Board, I am pleased to welcome a new CEO with a substantial track record of leadership in innovation, systems and technology,” adds Clayton Pecknold, PRIMECorp Board Chair. “Oliver’s extensive background and expertise will benefit our focus of service to our police partners across British Columbia by helping to ensure the ongoing effectiveness and security of PRIME-BC.”

 

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For more information contact:

Jody Robertson
E-Comm Corporate Communications
604-215-4956

[email protected]

www.ecomm911.ca
www.primecorpbc.ca

Oliver Grüter-Andrew Biography

Over the course of 25 years, Oliver Grüter-Andrew has worked in England, Europe, Canada and the United States in both the public and private sectors. A successful consultant and Chief Information Officer (CIO), Oliver has experience in a diverse set of industries, including financial services, consumer retail, utilities, higher education and health care. His principal contributions have been in technology management, shared services delivery, people development and corporate governance.

Oliver was born and raised in the Federal Republic of Germany, in the country’s industrial heartland not far from the Dutch border. At the age of 20, he moved to England to pursue his undergraduate studies, and he graduated with a degree in physics from the University of London in 1992. During that same year, he was married to Jacky, who came to London from New Zealand for her own education. Following graduation, Oliver joined management-consulting firm Accenture in the United Kingdom to start his career. In 1998, Oliver and Jacky decided on a lifestyle change and chose to move to Vancouver, where Oliver continued to work with Accenture until 2008. Earlier that decade their two boys, Cory and Ash, were born and the family has lived in Vancouver ever since. 

In 2009, Oliver joined the University of British Columbia as CIO until he moved to his current role as CIO of the Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care in 2015.

Oliver enjoys music, reading, skiing, swimming and walks with his dog. He cooks for his family and friends, but also enjoys eating out. Outside of family life and work, he serves on the Boards of Indigena Solutions, an IT service provider aiming to develop technology skills in First Nations communities, and the German Canadian Benevolent Society, which operates a residential care home in southeast Vancouver

Vancouver, B.C. — E-Comm, Emergency Communications for British Columbia Incorporated, is pleased to announce its 2017-2018 board of directors. The announcement follows today’s Annual General Meeting, held at the emergency communications centre.

“The achievements E-Comm realized in 2016 are a testament to the direction, leadership and oversight provided by our board of directors and the hard work and dedication of our staff,” said David Guscott, E-Comm president and CEO. “Last year saw continued growth in the public safety services and technologies we provide throughout the province, allowing our organization to continue to expand its role in emergency communications to better support our partners, first responders and the public.”

E-Comm’s board is composed of 19 directors and includes elected officials, representatives of emergency services and the provincial government, in addition to municipal staff and local community and business leaders.

2017-2018 board of directors: 
1. Doug Campbell, Independent Director, Board Chair
2. Councillor Bruce Bell, nominated by Cities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge
3. Becky Denlinger, nominated by Provincial Government
4. Barry Forbes, Independent Director
5. Mayor Jack Froese, nominated by Township of Langley, Cities of Surrey and White Rock
6. Lois Karr, nominated by RCMP
7. Anne Kinvig, Independent Director
8. Deputy Chief Constable Warren Lemcke, nominated by Vancouver Police Board
9. Neil Lilley, nominated by BC Emergency Health Services
10. Councillor Raymond Louie, nominated by Metro Vancouver
11. Jack McGee, nominated by Independent Police Boards (Port Moody, West Vancouver, Transit Police, Abbotsford, New Westminster)
12. Councillor Bill McNulty, nominated by City of Richmond
13. Paul Mochrie, nominated by City of Vancouver
14. Denise Nawata, Independent Director
15. Karl Preuss, nominated by The Corporation of Delta / Delta Police Board
16. Mark Sieben, nominated by Provincial Government
17. Councillor Mary Trentadue, nominated by Belcarra, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody
18. Mayor Richard Walton, nominated by District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, Village of Lions Bay
19. Terry Waterhouse, nominated by Cities of Surrey and White Rock, Township of Langley

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E-Comm is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for 26 regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George.
E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 35 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. and operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province. For more information visit www.ecomm911.ca. 

Media contact:

Jody Robertson
E-Comm Corporate Communications
604-215-4956

[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.—Today three of the Lower Mainland’s RCMP detachments successfully transitioned to a new best-in-class radio network. Among the key features of the “next generation” system and equipment: Greater reliability, water immersion resistance, radio monitoring (enabling dispatchers to remotely activate radio microphones for improved responder safety), noise-cancelling technology to reduce background sounds and allow responders to be heard more clearly in noisy environments, increased coverage, audio clarity and security, GPS tracking, an expanded range of accessories and the ability to add new features through software upgrades in the future.

Richmond, Ridge-Meadows and UBC detachments are the first RCMP agencies to transition to the radio system, part of a planned rollout that will see 32 emergency-service agencies move to the new network in a phased approach that is scheduled through to the end of 2017. Richmond RCMP has been using the existing E-Comm radio system since 2000 and Ridge-Meadows and UBC detachments first joined in 2001. Combined, all three detachments generate more than 7 million radio transmissions per year.

“The safety and security of our officers is of the utmost importance to us,” stated Lois Karr, Acting Deputy Criminal Operations Officer for the BC RCMP. “The police radio is arguably the most important tool in our tool belt, it connects us not only to each other and to our police dispatchers, but also to our policing partners, including fire services and ambulance personnel. This transition to the “next generation” radio system in our detachments, will undoubtedly add to the security of our officers, with the increased interoperability, better clarity and coverage.”

Earlier this morning Richmond RCMP’s Officer in Charge, Superintendent Will Ng, made an inaugural broadcast to officers over the new network. He explained that the features of the radio system will “provide superior coverage and a level of increased security that will directly benefit the RCMP and our community, improving the safety of responders as well as the members of the public that we are assisting.”

The replacement of the existing regional radio network is the largest and most complex technology project E-Comm and its emergency-service partners have undertaken since the current radio system was first implemented 1999. The new network is also fully encrypted, meaning communication among first responders will be kept extra secure and the privacy of the public who are being assisted by emergency services will be better protected during the necessary transmittal of personal and private information over the voice network.

“The RCMP have been long-time radio partners with E-Comm and we’re proud to support each detachment’s transition to the new system,” said E-Comm President and CEO David Guscott. “While the previous network has served the region well for close to 18 years, the new system is more advanced, more rugged and more resilient—enhancing the safety of police officers and the citizens they serve and protect.”

The new radio system will be used by police departments and BC Emergency Health Services (BC Ambulance Service) in Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, in addition to 12 fire departments in Metro Vancouver and the BC Conservation Service. Approximately 8,000 new radios will be deployed generating more than 130 million transmissions each year. Because this is a planned transition, the annual cost of the new radio network will be about the same as the annual cost of the current network, even with its enhanced features. The new radio system is expected to have an operational lifespan of 15 or more years.

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About E-Comm
E-Comm operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province and is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for Metro Vancouver and 25 other regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George. E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 35 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. For more information visit www.ecomm911.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-603-7245
[email protected]

Cpl Janelle Shoihet
RCMP “E” Division Communication Services
778-290-4134
[email protected]

Cpl Dennis Hwang
Richmond RCMP
604-278-1212
[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.—Today at 7:21 a.m. E-Comm officially became the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in the Peace River Regional District. Canada’s largest 9-1-1 centre is now responsible for answering the frontend portion of 9-1-1 calls for Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Hudson’s Hope, Pouce Coupe, Taylor and Tumbler Ridge along with many of the region’s First Nations communities. E-Comm call-takers will then immediately transfer 9-1-1 calls to the appropriate police, fire or ambulance agency.

“The regional district is continually looking for ways to enhance the high level of emergency services our communities receive,” explained Brad Sperling, Chair of the Peace River Regional District. “We believe our new partnership with E-Comm will allow us to provide residents with the same high-quality 9-1-1 service they are accustomed to receiving, but in a more cost effective manner with added operational benefits. This includes having access to a larger workforce to deal with sudden influxes of high 9-1-1 call-volume.”

Approximately 20,000 emergency calls placed each year from the Peace River are now being routed to E-Comm. Highly-trained call-takers will quickly confirm which agency the caller requires and for which location before transferring calls to the requested emergency service agency—police, fire or ambulance.

“9-1-1 is a lifeline, which is why thorough preparation was our top priority for today’s transition,” said E-Comm President and CEO David Guscott. “We’re proud to be able to answer the frontend portion of 9-1-1 calls for citizens in the Peace River. The speed and accuracy of this critical role allows people to connect with local police, fire and ambulance agencies to get the help they need.”

As part of the transition to E-Comm, a specialized service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community is now available that allows registered users to communicate via text message with 9-1-1 call-takers. The service is called Text with 9-1-1 and was developed by Canada’s telecommunications services providers. In an emergency, registered users must first dial 9-1-1 like any other caller to establish a voice connection – this is the only way a text session can start. When E-Comm receives the call an alert will trigger at the 9-1-1 centre to indicate there is a deaf or hard-of-hearing caller on the line. The 9-1-1 call-taker will then launch the special messaging system, allowing them to communicate with the caller through a special text session. To register and learn more about Text with 9-1-1 visit www.textwith911.ca.

“We’re excited to be able to provide our deaf and hard-of-hearing community with an improved way of communicating with 9-1-1 call-takers during an emergency,” added Sperling. “I hope residents with hearing or speech impairments take time to register for this important service and learn how it works and what to expect if they ever need to use it.”

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About E-Comm
E-Comm operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province and is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for Metro Vancouver and 26 other regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George. E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 35 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. For more information visit https://ecomm911.ca/

For more information, please contact:

Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-5023
[email protected]

Peace River Regional District
Fran Haughian
250-784-4328

Available video:

Interview with E-Comm CEO David Guscott: Peace River Regional District
Peace River 9-1-1 Transition B-roll Footage of Call Takers
Peace River Transition Confirmation of Broadcast

Dawson Creek, B.C.—Commencing May 17th 2017, emergency 9-1-1 calls from the Peace River Regional District will be answered by E-Comm, the Emergency Communications Centre located in Vancouver.

In 2016, in anticipation of the end of the 9-1-1 service delivery contract with the RCMP, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) issued a request proposals to identify agencies who could deliver 9-1-1 call answer services for the region. E-Comm submitted a proposal that met and exceeded the requirements to deliver the service in a cost effective manner.

“As a Board we are excited to be working with E-Comm to provide 9-1-1 call services for our region. Not only does E-Comm have the technology, expertise and staff resources to effectively handle 9-1-1 calls from our area, but it will result is 64% cost savings for our tax payers. As the overall 9-1-1 system evolves across Canada, E-Comm is well positioned to evolve with changes to service standards and technology,” says Brad Sperling, Chair of the Peace River Regional District.

Following the official cutover to E-Comm in May, the PRRD will join 25 other regional districts and communities who currently partner with E-Comm for 9-1-1 call-answer services.

Media contacts:

Peace River Regional District 
Fran Haughian
250-784-3200
[email protected]

E-Comm 9-1-1
Jasmine Bradley
604-215-5023
[email protected]