Quebec family grieves after misrouted 911 call during father’s heart attack

David Lemire’s father, Victorin, collapsed while shoveling snow during a storm on March 16 in St-Bruno-de-Guigues, Quebec. After feeling unwell, he went inside and lost consciousness, prompting Lemire’s younger brother to call 911 multiple times. However, the calls were misrouted to Ontario due to a lack of cellular coverage in Quebec, delaying emergency response. It took approximately 50 minutes for paramedics to arrive, during which time Lemire’s family attempted resuscitation. Despite the paramedics’ efforts, Victorin died from a heart attack. The family is now left with questions about whether a timely response could have changed the outcome.

Why It Matters

Misrouted 911 calls are a recurring issue along the Ontario-Quebec border, particularly near Lake Témiscamingue. Factors such as weather conditions, cellular tower obstructions, and the number of available towers affect emergency call routing. Additionally, language barriers can complicate responses, especially for unilingual French speakers. Current efforts to implement Next Gen 911 services aim to improve call routing accuracy by using geolocation technology, although there are differing estimates on when this will be fully operational.

Want More Context? 🔎