The COVID-19 pandemic has taken Ontario through one of its most unsettling times. Some people experience no symptoms; for others, it’s a struggle to breathe, to walk, to speak. In those uncertain moments, it’s comforting for all of us to know that Ontario’s 911 Ambulance Communications Officers are only a short call away – providing support when we most need it.
This National Telecommunicators Week, let’s all take a moment to express our deep gratitude and respect for the province’s hardworking Ambulance Communications Officers. These frontline workers represent the best of humanity – they keep us calm and reassure us that help is on the way, while dispatching an ambulance, coordinating with paramedics, and working to locate exactly where to find us.
These frontline workers operate around the clock – they sacrifice their evenings, weekends, and holidays with their families to create a safer world for all of us. During this crisis, when our emergency call centre phones are ringing off the hook, our Ambulance Communications Officers are showing their strength, sound judgment, and expertise to ease our fears and save our lives.
To each and every one of Ontario’s ACOs, we say thank you for protecting us, our loved ones, and all of Ontario’s public.
In solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, First Vice-President/Treasurer