Markham and Barrie Fire and Emergency Services enter new dispatch service agreement

MARKHAM, ON – July 26, 2021 – This morning, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman signed an agreement for Barrie Fire & Emergency Service (BFES) to provide 24/7 emergency call-taking and dispatch service to Markham Fire & Emergency Services (MFES) by the end of this year.

• "Innovation and forward thinking is at the core of everything we do at the City of Markham, and by leveraging strategic partnerships we are able to keep costs down and improve the customer experience for the residents of Markham and Barrie,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.
• “Barrie Fire & Emergency Service is one of the most respected fire services in Ontario,” said Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman. “The fact that the City of Markham chose BFES to deliver such a critical service to their residents is a testament to the outstanding skills and expertise of the BFES team. I'm proud that Markham and Barrie are again demonstrating the potential of municipal collaboration in serving our residents.”
• “This strategic partnership brings municipalities together to provide effective services efficiently and economically, demonstrating leadership in the stewardship of money and resources as set out in Markhams’ strategic plan,” said the City of Markham’s CAO Andy Taylor.
• “I am excited to partner with Chief Mainprize and the entire BFES team. By being proactive both cities will benefit from this partnership and be ready to fully leverage the capabilities of NG9-1-1,” said Markham Fire and Emergency Services Chief Adam Grant. “Markham is working to modernize all aspects of fire protection service delivery and this is a major step towards achieving this vision.”

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff at bfrois@markham.ca or 416.567.1177.

All other media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:
Jennifer Yap, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations at jyap@markham.ca or 437.229.2450.

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Visit markham.ca/covid19 or listen to 105.9 The Region – Markham’s information and emergency radio station.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with more than 351,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 headquartered companies and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy.
 

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