Saugeen Shores is changing its fire dispatch service from Owen Sound to St Catharines.
Council approved the change at Monday night’s regular meeting.
Fire Chief Ed Melanson explained during a presentation, the five-year agreement with Owen Sound Emergency Communications ends on December 31st, 2025.
He’s projecting $500,000 in savings over the next 15 years. Melanson explains the Owen Sound dispatch service considers census population in its pricing which, in Saugeen Shores case is increasing with every census.
Melanson’s report says 2025 dispatching fees are $62,359 based on a $2.99 dispatch rate per capita plus $0.93 per capita for NexGen 911 fees. Melanson says St. Catharines Fire Dispatch first-year cost is $35,028 with small annual increases year over year ending at $50,422 in year 15. Melanson says services will be supplied at no additional cost to the municipality for hardware, software or initial integration.
The way it will work in 2026, is a 911 call will go to Owen Sound’s dispatch centre, who will ask “police, fire or EMS?” and when you say “fire” they will put you through to the St. Catharines dispatcher.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said at Monday’s meeting, “I think this is obviously good costs savings and it sounds like it would be a positive direction for fire service in terms of the kind of dispatch service that we need.”
He added, “I just want to also note my appreciation to the City of Owen Sound for the services they have provided us over the number of years—- it’s been a longstanding relationship.”
Owen Sound’s dispatch centre provides dispatch to numerous police and fire services. The dispatch centre is a source of revenue for the Owen Sound Police service.
In his report, Melanson notes five of the eight municipalities in Bruce County also have terminating contracts, and says the Bruce County Fire Chief’s Association visited the Owen Sound, Tillsonburg and St. Catharines Dispatch Centres. He says the Saugeen First Nation Fire Department (dispatched by Tillsonburg) were also involved in the evaluation process. Melanson notes those communities will be making their owen separate decisions.
