911 call taker in B.C. releases 2022 list of frivolous complaints to emergency lines

VANCOUVER — The agency that handles most emergency calls in British Columbia has announced 2022 was its busiest year, but along with managing life-saving communications, EComm says it is still receiving an unacceptable number of senseless calls.

EComm, which handles all but a fraction of B.C.’s 911 call volume, has released a list of top 10 frivolous complaints it says came in last year.

The list ranges from children drawing with chalk in a playground to a messy roommate, broken windshield wiper, cellphone stuck in a bench and, No. 1 on the list, a malfunctioning nozzle at a gas station.

Call takers say callers often admit they aren’t reporting an emergency but confess they don’t know who else can help, so EComm has posted a comprehensive list of alternative resources on its website at nonemergency.ca.