Calling for Emergency Medical Services in Manitoba

Who answers when I call…

  • 9-1-1 (or local emergency number)…
    • Inside the City of Winnipeg?
      • Inside the City of Winnipeg, your emergency call is answered at the Winnipeg Police Service’s Communications Centre. Your call is then directed to the proper agency, depending on the type of emergency.
    • Outside the City of Winnipeg?
      • Outside the City of Winnipeg, your emergency 9-1-1 call is answered at the Provincial Public Safety Answering Point in the City of Brandon. Your call is then directed to the correct agency, depending on the type of emergency. Requests for Emergency Medical Services are connected directly with the MTCC.
    • In areas that utilize a local 10-digit emergency number for ambulance, your call is answered directly by the MTCC.

Why do I have to repeat my address and phone number?

When you call for paramedics, it is imperative that we know where help is needed so we can send the paramedics as quickly as possible.

When calling 9-1-1 from a landline telephone (wireline) the system provides us with your location. However, we still need to confirm that you need help at that location or if you need help elsewhere.

In the case of a call from a cell phone, there is no location information provided and we need to verify to make sure we’ve documented it correctly.

Finally, if you call on a 10-digit number, no location information whatsoever is provided to us, so we need to verify all information.

Do you get my GPS coordinates when I call from a cell phone?

In most cases, when you dial 9-1-1 from a cell phone, your GPS coordinates are received at the MTCC. The accuracy will depend on the equipment being used, and the capabilities of the phone itself.

Why do I get asked so many questions?

Calltakers ask only as much information as is required for your situation, in order to ensure that the right resources are dispatched, the responders are prepared for the situation, and that instructions for care can be provided.

Listen to sample calls and dispatches below!

Traffic Incident




Allergic Reaction




ACE logo
MTCC logo Medical Transportation Coordination Centre
N800—150 McTavish Avenue East
Brandon, MBR7A 2B3
Map (204) 571-8860 mtcc@gov.mb.ca

This page last updated: August 6, 2017