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{{Canada Collaboration
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{{Collaboration_Canada
 
|ProvinceDB=[http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?stid=101 {{color|white|Alberta DB]}}
 
|ProvinceDB=[http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?stid=101 {{color|white|Alberta DB]}}
−
|Canadaforum=[http://www.radioreference.com/forums/western-canada-radio-discussion-forum/ {{color|white|West Canada Forum}}]   
+
|Canadaforum=[http://forums.radioreference.com/prairies-pacific-coast/ {{color|white|Prairies/Pac Coast Forum}}]   
 
|Province=Alberta}}
 
|Province=Alberta}}
  
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==Geography==
 
==Geography==
 
The province of Alberta is in western Canada, stretching from the United States border at the 49th parallel to the Northwest Territories at the 60th, and from British Columbia to the west - with the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains forming part of the border, along with the 120th line of longitude - to Saskatchewan in the east, on the 110th line of longitude. The province is comprised of varying terrain from flat prairie to tall mountainous regions, forested regions, and canyons and coulees, making for difficult comms challenges.
 
The province of Alberta is in western Canada, stretching from the United States border at the 49th parallel to the Northwest Territories at the 60th, and from British Columbia to the west - with the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains forming part of the border, along with the 120th line of longitude - to Saskatchewan in the east, on the 110th line of longitude. The province is comprised of varying terrain from flat prairie to tall mountainous regions, forested regions, and canyons and coulees, making for difficult comms challenges.
 +
 +
===Relative Geographic Location===
 +
 +
{{Geographic Location
 +
| Northwest =
 +
| North    = [[Northwest Territories (CA)|Northwest Territories]]
 +
| Northeast =
 +
| West      = [[British Columbia (CA)| British Columbia]]
 +
| Center    =  Alberta
 +
| East      = [[Saskatchewan (CA) | Saskatchewan]]
 +
| Southwest =
 +
| South    = [[Montana (US)|Montana]]
 +
| Southeast =
 +
}}
  
 
==Radio Networks==
 
==Radio Networks==
−
Currently, the province has several aged conventional repeater networks, supporting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who provide municipal policing for the province; various Government of Alberta services including Sustainable Resource Development officers (Conservation Officers, Fish & Wildlife Officers, etc.); Alberta Sheriffs (providing traffic enforcement, court and remand officials, and other non-municipal law enforcement duties); and so on. Many of these networks are beyond the end of their useful life, and are being maintained only as long as is necessary to bridge the gap until the province-wide 700MHz, APCO Project-25 trunked radio network (AFRRCS - Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System) is built, scheduled to be started in 2009 with full system completion in 2012.
+
Currently, the province has several aged conventional repeater networks, supporting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who provide municipal policing for the province; various Government of Alberta services including Sustainable Resource Development officers (Conservation Officers, Fish & Wildlife Officers, etc.); Alberta Sheriffs (providing traffic enforcement, court and remand officials, and other non-municipal law enforcement duties); and so on. Many of these networks are beyond the end of their useful life, and are being maintained only as long as is necessary to bridge the gap until the province-wide 700MHz, APCO Project-25 trunked radio network (AFRRCS - Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System) is built, scheduled to be started in 2009 with full system completion in 2012 (Now 2016).
  
−
Future edits to this page will include [[Alberta Unknown Trunking Systems]], a list of systems known in the TAFL but whose type and system flavor are not known; [[Useful Common Alberta Information]], such as how to program scanner ABC for system XYZ; and [[Upcoming Province of Alberta Projects]], which will describe what is known about the [[AFRRCS]] (mentioned above) and the upcoming (as of January 2009) [[Alberta Health Services]] merger/transition of ambulance services to the province.
+
Future edits to this page will include [[Alberta Unknown Trunking Systems]], a list of systems known in the TAFL but whose type and system flavor are not known; [[Useful Common Alberta Information]], such as how to program scanner ABC for system XYZ; and [[Alberta_(CA)#Upcoming_Province_of_Alberta_Projects|Upcoming Province of Alberta Projects]], which will describe what is known about the [[Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System (AFRRCS)]] (mentioned above) and the upcoming (as of January 2009) [[Alberta (CA)#Alberta Health Services|Alberta Health Services]] merger/transition of ambulance services to the province.
  
 
==Alberta Emergency Services Reference==
 
==Alberta Emergency Services Reference==
Line 24: Line 38:
 
Most public safety organizations in Alberta use some combination of ten codes and supplementary status codes. APCO has defined a standard meaning for ten codes to provide interoperability between different departments and agencies. Most agencies in Alberta ''do not'' subscribe to the standard or have made significant changes.
 
Most public safety organizations in Alberta use some combination of ten codes and supplementary status codes. APCO has defined a standard meaning for ten codes to provide interoperability between different departments and agencies. Most agencies in Alberta ''do not'' subscribe to the standard or have made significant changes.
  
−
===Calgary Police Service===
+
===RCMP===
 +
* [[Public Safety (Police) (AB)]]
 +
* [[RCMP K Division (AB)]]
  
−
The Calgary Police use the first 9 ten codes in 2 different contexts. For example, when broadcast as "ten-one" it is in the general meaning, reception poor. When broadcast as "ten-zero-one" it is describing a response code, an injury accident.
+
===General Fire / EMS===
 +
* [[Public Safety (Fire & EMS) (AB)]]
  
 +
===Calgary Police Service===
 +
*[[Calgary_County_(AB)#Calgary Police Service]]
  
−
<u>General Codes</u>
+
===Edmonton Police Service===
−
*'''10-1'''  Reception poor     
+
*[[Edmonton_County_(AB)#Edmonton Police Service]]
−
*'''10-2'''  Reception clear     
 
−
*'''10-3'''  Stand by           
 
−
*'''10-4'''  Message received   
 
−
*'''10-5'''  Your location       
 
−
*'''10-6'''  Call by phone       
 
−
*'''10-7'''  Book out           
 
−
*'''10-8'''  Clear/resuming     
 
−
*'''10-9'''  Repeat message
 
−
<u>Response Codes</u>
 
−
*'''10-01'''  Accident, injury         
 
−
*'''10-03'''  Accident, industrial     
 
−
*'''10-04'''  Alarm                   
 
−
*'''10-05'''  Assault                 
 
−
*'''10-06'''  Assault police constable 
 
−
*'''10-07'''  Attempted suicide       
 
−
*'''10-08'''  Break and enter (home)   
 
−
*'''10-09'''  Break and enter (shop)  
 
−
*'''10-10'''  Dog complaint           
 
−
*'''10-11'''  Domestic dispute         
 
−
*'''10-12'''  Drunk
 
−
*'''10-13'''  Escort                   
 
−
*'''10-14'''  Disturbance
 
−
*'''10-15'''  Fire                     
 
−
*'''10-16'''  Fraud                   
 
−
*'''10-17'''  Indecent                 
 
−
*'''10-18'''  Juveniles               
 
−
*'''10-19'''  Landlord - tenant dispute
 
−
*'''10-20'''  Lost or found property   
 
−
*'''10-21'''  Mental                   
 
−
*'''10-22'''  Missing person           
 
−
*'''10-23'''  Neighbor dispute
 
−
*'''10-24'''  Noisy party             
 
−
*'''10-25'''  Parking complaint
 
−
*'''10-26'''  Peeping tom             
 
−
*'''10-27'''  Property damage         
 
−
*'''10-28'''  Prowler                 
 
−
*'''10-29'''  Purse snatcher           
 
−
*'''10-30'''  Robbery                 
 
−
*'''10-31'''  Shoplifter               
 
−
*'''10-32'''  Sudden death             
 
−
*'''10-33'''  Suspicious person       
 
−
*'''10-34'''  Theft                   
 
−
*'''10-35'''  Threats                 
 
−
*'''10-36'''  Sexual assault           
 
−
*'''10-37'''  Collapse                 
 
−
*'''10-38'''  Drugs                   
 
−
*'''10-39'''  Noise complaint
 
−
*'''10-40'''  Possible gunshot         
 
−
*'''10-41'''  Unwanted guest/patron   
 
−
*'''10-42'''  Nuisance telephone calls 
 
−
*'''10-43'''  Check on welfare         
 
−
*'''10-44'''  Abduction               
 
−
*'''10-45'''  Notification
 
−
*'''10-67'''  Unauthorized listener
 
−
*'''X-99'''    Unknown problem/911 hangup
 
−
<u>Person/Vehicle Record Checks</u>
 
−
*'''10-50'''  Subject negative
 
−
*'''10-51'''  Subject has a record, not wanted
 
−
*'''10-52'''  Subject possibly wanted
 
−
*'''10-53'''  Subject wanted
 
−
*'''10-54'''  Subject dangerous
 
−
*'''10-55'''  Offensive weapon
 
−
*'''10-56'''  Subject in observation catagory
 
−
*'''10-57'''  Subject on parole, probation
 
−
*'''10-58'''  Subject in charged catagory
 
−
*'''10-59'''  Refused F.A.C. (firearm cert.)
 
−
*'''10-60'''  Escaped
 
−
*'''10-61'''  Charged no conviction
 
−
*'''10-62'''  Member of gang
 
−
*'''10-63'''  Attempted murder or murder
 
−
*'''10-64'''  Sexual offence
 
−
*'''10-65'''  Crime vehicle
 
−
*'''10-66'''  Confidential info.- clear car
 
−
*'''10-67'''  Failing to appear / Unauthorized listener
 
−
*'''10-68'''  Kidnapping
 
−
*'''10-69'''  Prostitution
 
−
*'''10-70'''  Pointer person to stolen property
 
−
*'''10-71'''  Pointer vehicle
 
−
*'''10-72'''  On probation
 
−
*'''10-73'''  Contagious disease             
 
−
<u>Traffic Response Codes</u>
 
−
*'''10-81'''  Abandoned vehicle
 
−
*'''10-82'''  Careless (dangerous) driver
 
−
*'''10-83'''  Impaired driver
 
−
*'''10-84'''  Hit and run
 
−
*'''10-85'''  Speeder
 
−
*'''10-86'''  Stolen auto
 
−
*'''10-87'''  Suspicious auto
 
−
*'''10-88'''  Misc.  traffic complaint
 
  
 
==Alberta Health Services==
 
==Alberta Health Services==
  
−
Alberta Health Services is the arm of the [[Alberta]] provincial government responsible for health care. In terms of public safety, AHS is (soon to be) the operator of ambulance services for the province.
+
Alberta Health Services is the arm of the [[Alberta]] provincial government responsible for health care. In terms of public safety, AHS is the operator of ambulance services for the province.
  
 
===Background===
 
===Background===
  
−
Ambulance service in Alberta has historically been provided by municipalities as either a combination Fire/EMS agency or a 'third service' model. Several First Nations also provide their own ambulance services, which fall under federal guidelines and the Department of Indian Affairs.
+
Until 2009 Ambulance service in Alberta was provided by municipalities as either a combination Fire/EMS agency or a 'third service' model. Several First Nations also provide their own ambulance services, which fall under federal guidelines and the Department of Indian Affairs.
  
 
Several times in the 2000s, the Government of Alberta made attempts at amalgamating existing ambulance services across the province into one entity, to be managed and governed by the province. In 2008, the declaration was made that this merger would take place on 2009 April 01.
 
Several times in the 2000s, the Government of Alberta made attempts at amalgamating existing ambulance services across the province into one entity, to be managed and governed by the province. In 2008, the declaration was made that this merger would take place on 2009 April 01.
  
−
===Dispatch Services===
+
Emergency Medical Services in Alberta is now provided via either direct delivery (AHS EMS) or in some communities via contract services (Associated Ambulance, etc)
  
−
Coupled with the merger (also described by the province as a 'transition' of services) of the ambulance agencies, is a project to consolidate dispatch services for EMS from over thirty dispatch centers across the province to a total of "nine or less", scheduled to be in place by January 2009 (target date missed). The term "nine or less" refers to having one dispatch center responsible for an entire health region, of which there are nine in the province; it is conceivable that one dispatch center may 'win' the bidding to dispatch more than one health region. As of February 2009, one or more dispatch centers are currently in contract negotiations to determine what areas they will dispatch for and when this will begin.
+
AHS also provides fixed wing Air Ambulance service for several communities in Alberta, including Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Peace River, and Slave Lake.
  
−
===Communications===
+
Several other communities in Alberta recieve fixed wing Air Ambulance service via contracted 3rd party providers.
  
−
Currently, EMS services across the province use a myriad of all sorts of communications networks for dispatch and operations, including conventional UHF/VHF, various trunking systems, MotoTRBO, iDEN, VHF paired with satellite relay, and the Internet Radio Linking Protocol (IRLP), to name a few. It is suspected, but not confirmed, that the delay in deciding the dispatch agencies may contribute toward some sort of coincidental agreement or function with the [[AFRRCS]] provincial trunking network project.
+
Rotary wing Air Ambulance services in Alberta are provided by the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS), with bases in Calgary, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie.
  
−
===Timeline===
+
===Alberta Health Zones===
  
−
The date for dispatch services to be switched over to the new agencies has already passed without action. Members of the EMS and first responder community have expressed concern that the province will not be able to keep to its scheduled transition date of 2009 April 01. The most recent information available implies that the province will expect all existing EMS providers to contract their services to AHS for a period of no less than two (2) years, thus building in a de facto 'cushion' or delay.
+
The province is divided up into 7 different zones, each zone provides health services to their respective geographical area. AHS EMS is unique, wherein Ambulances often provide backup/cross coverage for Ambulance in other zones. This is achieved via the AHS EMS borderless dispatch model.
  
−
==Upcoming Province of Alberta Projects==
 
  
−
Currently, there are two endeavors in the Province of Alberta that are relevant to the scanner community.
+
The AHS zones are as follows:
  
−
One is the [[AFRRCS]] or Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System - a trunked network being designed and deployed to cover the entire province with integrated, interoperable communications for first responders and government agencies;
+
North Zone
  
−
The other is the [[Alberta Health Services]]' ground ambulance merger/transition plan, scheduled to move all ground ambulance services to the responsibility of the government as of April 2009.
+
Edmonton Suburban Rural Zone
  
 +
Edmonton Metro Zone
  
−
==Alberta Unknown Trunking Systems==
+
Central Zone
  
−
===Background===
+
Calgary Suburban Rural Zone
  
−
There are a number of trunk systems easily identifiable in the [http://spectrumdirect.ic.gc.ca/engdoc/main.html TAFL] for which information such as system type/brand, trunking protocol, etc., are as-yet undetermined, mainly because no one in the province has yet to attempt to monitor these systems (or has not submitted what they know into the Radio Reference Database, aka RRDB). Because of these missing elements, these systems cannot be included in the RRDB. These systems will be listed below, so that their data is in an easily accessible place, for interested parties to use in helping to 'sleuth out' the missing details.
+
Calgary Metro Zone
  
−
As systems' traits become identified to a point where they meet the criteria for being included in the RRDB, they will be moved there.
+
South Zone
  
−
===Systems===
 
  
−
Systems have been arranged in this section by county.
 
  
−
===Provincewide===
+
===Dispatch Services===
  
−
[[AFRRCS]]
+
Shortly after the merger, AHS began to consolidate dispatch services into what they call a "borderless system". Using this, all ambulances in Alberta are dispatched using the same system, meaning any dispatcher in any Communication Center in the province can see the location and status of every ambulance in the province.
  
−
[[ATCO Electric P25]]
+
There are currently six (6) EMS Communication Centers operating in Alberta. 3 are operated by AHS, and 3 are contracted to provide EMS dispatch services in addition to the other services they already dispatch (Fire/Police)
  
−
===Athabasca===
+
The EMS Communication Centers in Alberta are:
  
−
[[Alberta Pacific Forest Industries - Grassland]]
 
  
−
===Clearwater===
+
'''Northern Communications Center (NCC)''' - Peace River AB
  
−
[[Shell Canada - Caroline]]
+
'''Central Communications Center (CCC)''' - Edmonton AB
  
−
===Edmonton===
+
'''Red Deer Emergency Communications Center''' - Red Deer AB
  
−
[[Glentel Riverwind - Edmonton]]
+
'''Southern Communications Center (SCC)''' - Calgary AB
−
[[Glentel Stony Plain - Edmonton]]
 
−
[[Westcan Wireless - Edmonton]]
 
  
−
===Leduc===
+
'''Lethbridge Emergency Communications Center''' - Lethbridge AB
  
−
[[Prairie Mines Royalty - Genessee]]
+
'''Fort McMurray Emergency Communications Center''' - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo AB
  
−
===Parkland===
 
  
−
[[TransAlta - Highvale]]
+
===Communications===
−
 
 
−
===Peace===
 
−
 
 
−
[[Quintel Communications - Peace River]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Red Deer===
 
−
 
 
−
[[Cellular 90 - Red Deer]]
 
−
[[Glentel - Red Deer]]
 
−
[[Shaw Cablesystems - Red Deer]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Strathcona===
 
−
 
 
−
[[BA Energy - Fort Saskatchewan]]
 
−
[[Dow Chemical - Fort Saskatchewan]]
 
−
[[Shaw Cablesystems - Fort Saskatchewan]]
 
−
[[Sherritt International - Fort Saskatchewan]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Sturgeon===
 
−
 
 
−
[[Agrium - Redwater]]
 
−
[[PCOSI (Petro Canada Oilsands Inc) - Redwater]]
 
−
[[St. Albert Corporate Radio - St. Albert]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Vermilion River===
 
  
−
[[Shaw Cablesystems - Lloydminster]]
+
Previously, EMS services across the province used a myriad of all sorts of communications networks for dispatch and operations, including conventional UHF/VHF, various trunking systems, MotoTRBO, iDEN, VHF paired with satellite relay, and the Internet Radio Linking Protocol (IRLP), to name a few.
  
−
===Wood Buffalo===
+
All EMS services (direct delivery/contract) not utilize the [[Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System (AFRRCS)]] for all communication. AHS EMS communications on AFRRCS are 100% encrypted, and are not scannable.
  
−
[[Albian Sands Energy - Fort Mackay]]
 
−
[[Cellular 90 - Fort McMurray]]
 
−
[[Nexen - Long Lake/Anzac]]
 
−
[[Suncor - Firebag]]
 
−
[[Suncor - Fort McMurray]]
 
−
[[Syncrude Canada - Mildred Lake]]
 
−
[[Tridon Mobile Communications - Fort McMurray]]
 
  
−
===Woodlands===
+
===Dispatch Codes===
 +
All Alberta Health Services dispatch centres use the proprietary [[Medical Priority Dispatch System]] to determine the level of response.
  
−
[[Millar Western Forest Products - Whitecourt]]
+
==Other Alberta Trunking Systems==
  
−
==Alberta Pacific Forest Industries - Grassland==
+
* [[Trunked Radio Systems (AB)]]
−
 
+
* [[Alberta Unknown Trunking Systems]]
−
This is an "unknown" trunk system in the province of Alberta. The SID for the depreciated system is [http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=5552 5552].
 
−
 
 
−
===Sites===
 
−
 
 
−
There is only one site. Its callsign is VBM475, and the name is specified in TAFL as 'Mill Boiler Tower'. The coordinates on record with the TAFL are N54.9188 W112.858056.
 
−
 
 
−
===Frequencies===
 
−
 
 
−
The frequencies for Site 1 are as follows:
 
−
 
 
−
853.46250
 
−
853.71250
 
−
853.96250
 
−
854.21250
 
−
854.46250
 
−
856.03750
 
−
856.28750
 
−
856.53750
 
−
856.78750
 
−
857.03750
 
  
 
==Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System==
 
==Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System==
  
−
==System Makeup & Composition==
+
See [[Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System (AFRRCS)]].
−
 
 
−
The AFRRCS network is a trunked radio system that will be constructed in the province of [[Alberta]], [[Canada]], between 2009 and 2012. As of this writing, bids are still open for the construction of the system, but many details are known already about the system's characteristics as defined by the provincial government entities responsible for the network, namely Service Alberta and the Office of the Solicitor General (the parent government agency of the Alberta Sheriffs).
 
  
−
The system will be an APCO Project-25 digital trunking system in the 700MHz band. The province mandates that the system must work with any/all P25 equipment and infrastructure, such that any customer agency that wishes to use the network can purchase their favorite P25-compliant equipment and be assured it will function.
+
See [[ATCO Electric]].
  
−
The province is building this system to carry all the radio traffic of the various government agencies that currently use wireless/radio communications, as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who provide municipal policing to the province; as well as any first responders (Fire, EMS, Police, etc.) that choose to join the network.
+
==Railways==
−
 
+
* [[Canadian National Railways (AB)]]
−
Construction of the tower sites, backhaul, and infrastructure will be handled entirely by the province and the winning contractor; all that a customer agency (such as a volunteer fire department) will need is to purchase the necessary equipment, such as portable and mobile radios, to enable them to connect to the network.
+
* [[Canadian Pacific Railway (AB)]]
−
 
 
−
==Timeline==
 
−
 
 
−
The project is, as of this writing, in the bidding process of the Request for Proposal (RFP). This is expected to close on 2009 February 18 at 1400 MT, after which time the winning vendor(s) will be announced. It is expected that construction of the system will begin shortly thereafter; the province has estimated the final completion of the system build to be in 2012.
 
−
 
 
−
The province's expected build timeline involves constructing the system in 19 stages, one per each Census Division in the province. It is expected that as each section is built, it will come online, so there will be many users already on the system by as early as 3Q/4Q 2009, if not sooner.
 
−
 
 
−
==ATCO Electric P25==
 
−
 
 
−
This is an APCO Project-25 trunked radio system to be developed by/for the ATCO Electric company in northeastern/central Alberta. It is likely to be a VHF system. Raytheon is the major partner directing the 80-tower-site buildout.
 
−
 
 
−
Rumors state that a test site for this system has been put into service "100 km west of Edmonton", but nothing concrete has been provided to support this theory.
 
  
 
==Online Scanners==  
 
==Online Scanners==  
Line 284: Line 143:
  
 
==Web/Wiki Pages==
 
==Web/Wiki Pages==
−
* [[Alberta Sports]]
+
 
−
* [[Banff National Park County (AB)]]
+
===Wiki Articles===
−
* [[Calgary County (AB)]]
+
*[[Alberta Sports]]
−
* [[Edmonton County (AB)]]
+
*[[Alberta Counties]]
−
* [[Leduc County (AB)]]
+
*[[Calgary County (AB) | Calgary Emergency Services]]  
−
* [[Redwood Meadows County (AB)]]
+
*[[Edmonton Public Safety and Public Works]]
−
* [http://www.scanlethbridge.com/ Scan Lethbridge]
+
*[[Calgary Municipal Radio Network (P25)]]
 +
 
 +
{{Text_CatListStateLinks|State=Alberta}}
  
  
−
[[Category:Province Data]]
+
[[Category:Alberta]]

Latest revision as of 04:56, 13 April 2022

Alberta DB MediaWiki Quickref PDF Card Prairies/Pac Coast Forum

Welcome to the Alberta collaboration article. This is where you, the user, may index any articles you develop for scanning related topics for your area.

Alberta

Areawide Trunking System in Alberta

Geography

The province of Alberta is in western Canada, stretching from the United States border at the 49th parallel to the Northwest Territories at the 60th, and from British Columbia to the west - with the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains forming part of the border, along with the 120th line of longitude - to Saskatchewan in the east, on the 110th line of longitude. The province is comprised of varying terrain from flat prairie to tall mountainous regions, forested regions, and canyons and coulees, making for difficult comms challenges.

Relative Geographic Location

Northwest Territories
British Columbia North Saskatchewan
West   Alberta    East
South
Montana

Radio Networks

Currently, the province has several aged conventional repeater networks, supporting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who provide municipal policing for the province; various Government of Alberta services including Sustainable Resource Development officers (Conservation Officers, Fish & Wildlife Officers, etc.); Alberta Sheriffs (providing traffic enforcement, court and remand officials, and other non-municipal law enforcement duties); and so on. Many of these networks are beyond the end of their useful life, and are being maintained only as long as is necessary to bridge the gap until the province-wide 700MHz, APCO Project-25 trunked radio network (AFRRCS - Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System) is built, scheduled to be started in 2009 with full system completion in 2012 (Now 2016).

Future edits to this page will include Alberta Unknown Trunking Systems, a list of systems known in the TAFL but whose type and system flavor are not known; Useful Common Alberta Information, such as how to program scanner ABC for system XYZ; and Upcoming Province of Alberta Projects, which will describe what is known about the Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System (AFRRCS) (mentioned above) and the upcoming (as of January 2009) Alberta Health Services merger/transition of ambulance services to the province.

Alberta Emergency Services Reference

This is a supplemental scanning reference for emergency services in Alberta.

Radio Codes

Most public safety organizations in Alberta use some combination of ten codes and supplementary status codes. APCO has defined a standard meaning for ten codes to provide interoperability between different departments and agencies. Most agencies in Alberta do not subscribe to the standard or have made significant changes.

RCMP

General Fire / EMS

Calgary Police Service

Edmonton Police Service

Alberta Health Services

Alberta Health Services is the arm of the Alberta provincial government responsible for health care. In terms of public safety, AHS is the operator of ambulance services for the province.

Background

Until 2009 Ambulance service in Alberta was provided by municipalities as either a combination Fire/EMS agency or a 'third service' model. Several First Nations also provide their own ambulance services, which fall under federal guidelines and the Department of Indian Affairs.

Several times in the 2000s, the Government of Alberta made attempts at amalgamating existing ambulance services across the province into one entity, to be managed and governed by the province. In 2008, the declaration was made that this merger would take place on 2009 April 01.

Emergency Medical Services in Alberta is now provided via either direct delivery (AHS EMS) or in some communities via contract services (Associated Ambulance, etc)

AHS also provides fixed wing Air Ambulance service for several communities in Alberta, including Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Peace River, and Slave Lake.

Several other communities in Alberta recieve fixed wing Air Ambulance service via contracted 3rd party providers.

Rotary wing Air Ambulance services in Alberta are provided by the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS), with bases in Calgary, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie.

Alberta Health Zones

The province is divided up into 7 different zones, each zone provides health services to their respective geographical area. AHS EMS is unique, wherein Ambulances often provide backup/cross coverage for Ambulance in other zones. This is achieved via the AHS EMS borderless dispatch model.


The AHS zones are as follows:

North Zone

Edmonton Suburban Rural Zone

Edmonton Metro Zone

Central Zone

Calgary Suburban Rural Zone

Calgary Metro Zone

South Zone


Dispatch Services

Shortly after the merger, AHS began to consolidate dispatch services into what they call a "borderless system". Using this, all ambulances in Alberta are dispatched using the same system, meaning any dispatcher in any Communication Center in the province can see the location and status of every ambulance in the province.

There are currently six (6) EMS Communication Centers operating in Alberta. 3 are operated by AHS, and 3 are contracted to provide EMS dispatch services in addition to the other services they already dispatch (Fire/Police)

The EMS Communication Centers in Alberta are:


Northern Communications Center (NCC) - Peace River AB

Central Communications Center (CCC) - Edmonton AB

Red Deer Emergency Communications Center - Red Deer AB

Southern Communications Center (SCC) - Calgary AB

Lethbridge Emergency Communications Center - Lethbridge AB

Fort McMurray Emergency Communications Center - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo AB


Communications

Previously, EMS services across the province used a myriad of all sorts of communications networks for dispatch and operations, including conventional UHF/VHF, various trunking systems, MotoTRBO, iDEN, VHF paired with satellite relay, and the Internet Radio Linking Protocol (IRLP), to name a few.

All EMS services (direct delivery/contract) not utilize the Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System (AFRRCS) for all communication. AHS EMS communications on AFRRCS are 100% encrypted, and are not scannable.


Dispatch Codes

All Alberta Health Services dispatch centres use the proprietary Medical Priority Dispatch System to determine the level of response.

Other Alberta Trunking Systems

Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System

See Alberta First Responders' Radio Communication System (AFRRCS).

See ATCO Electric.

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