Emergency Contacts and Services Checklist for Newcomers

Nobody likes to think about emergencies, but knowing who to call before you need help is one of the smartest things you can do after arriving. This checklist explains the emergency services Canada newcomers should know about, from 911 to health advice lines, crisis support, and the local contacts worth saving in your phone during your first week.

Numbers and services can vary by province and municipality, and some change over time. Use this list as a starting point, then confirm local details on your provincial government, municipal, and utility websites. In any situation where life, health, or property is in immediate danger, call 911.

Life-Threatening Emergencies

• Save 911 as your emergency number. In Canada, 911 connects you to police, fire, and ambulance services. Call it for medical emergencies, fires, crimes in progress, or any situation where someone is in immediate danger.
• Know what to say. Stay calm, state your exact location first, describe what is happening, and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not hang up until told to.
• Ask for interpretation if needed. If you are not confident in English or French, say the name of your language. Many 911 centres can connect an interpreter.
• Learn your address and nearest cross street. Write your full address, including unit number and postal code, somewhere visible at home for family members and visitors.
• Teach children how to call 911. Practise with them what to say, and explain it is only for real emergencies.

Health Advice and Non-Emergency Care

• Save 811 for health advice. In many provinces, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, 811 connects you to a registered nurse for non-urgent health questions. Check your provincial health website for details.
• Find your nearest emergency department. Know the location of the closest hospital with an emergency department and how you would get there day or night.
• Locate walk-in and after-hours clinics. Waiting lists for family doctors can be long, so note nearby walk-in clinics, urgent care centres, and virtual care options.
• Know your local pharmacy. Pharmacists can often give advice on minor ailments, and in some provinces they can prescribe for certain conditions. Ask what services they offer.
• Save your provincial poison centre number. Poison information centres provide advice if someone swallows or is exposed to something harmful. Find the number for your province and keep it near medicine cabinets and cleaning supplies.
• Keep health cards and medication lists handy. Store a list of medications, allergies, and medical conditions for each family member in your phone and wallet.

Mental Health and Crisis Support

• Save 9-8-8. Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline can be reached by calling or texting 9-8-8, at any time of day or night.
• Kids Help Phone. A national service offering support for young people by phone and text. Look up the current contact details on its official website.
• Provincial mental health lines. Many provinces and cities have mental health crisis teams or lines. Search your provincial health authority’s website and save the number.
• Family violence support. Provinces and communities fund shelters and support lines for people experiencing abuse. In immediate danger, call 911. Settlement agencies can also help you find confidential support.

Community and Social Services

• Save 211. The 211 service connects people to community, social, health, and government services, such as food banks, housing help, and newcomer programs. It is available across Canada, including the Atlantic provinces.
• Your settlement agency. Save the phone number and address of your local newcomer services organization. They can help with urgent non-medical problems and point you to the right services.
• Local non-emergency police line. Use this number to report incidents that are not urgent, such as a past theft or noise complaint. Find it on your municipal or police service website.
• Your embassy or consulate. Save the contact details for your country’s diplomatic office in Canada in case you lose your passport or face a serious problem abroad.

Home and Utility Emergencies

• Power outage line. Save the outage number or app for your electricity provider, such as Nova Scotia Power, NB Power, Maritime Electric, or Newfoundland Power, depending on where you live.
• Gas leaks. If you smell gas, leave the building immediately, do not use switches or phones inside, and call 911 or your gas provider from a safe place.
• Water and heat problems. Save your landlord’s or property manager’s emergency contact for burst pipes, heating failures, or flooding.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Make sure your home has working alarms and know how to test them. Ask your landlord if any are missing.
• Know your exits. Identify fire exits in your building and agree on a family meeting point outside.

Weather and Public Alerts

• Emergency alerts on your phone. Canada’s Alert Ready system sends wireless alerts for dangers such as severe weather and other threats. Keep your phone’s emergency alerts turned on.
• Weather warnings. Follow Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather alerts, especially during winter storms and hurricane season.
• Municipal alert services. Many cities, including Halifax, offer emergency alert sign-ups by text, phone, or email. Register for yours.
• Road conditions. Bookmark your provincial road conditions website or 511 service before winter driving.

Money and Identity Emergencies

• Bank and card fraud lines. Save the 24-hour number on the back of each card so you can block it quickly if it is lost or stolen.
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Report scams and fraud attempts. Remember that government agencies will not demand payment by gift card or cryptocurrency.
• Lost documents. Know how to report lost immigration documents, health cards, or a driver’s licence through the official issuing agency’s website.

Make a Household Emergency Plan

An emergency plan does not need to be complicated. Write down where each family member usually is during the day, including workplaces and schools, and agree on how you will contact each other if phone networks are busy. Choose an out-of-area contact, such as a friend in another city, whom everyone can reach to share updates. Decide on two meeting places: one just outside your home in case of fire, and one in your neighbourhood in case you cannot return home. If anyone in your household has medical needs, mobility challenges, or limited English or French, include extra details in your plan and share it with a trusted neighbour. Review the plan together a couple of times a year so it stays fresh.

Build Your Emergency Kit

• Water, non-perishable food, and a manual can opener for at least a few days.
• Flashlight, extra batteries, and a battery-powered or crank radio.
• First-aid kit, essential medications, and copies of important documents.
• Warm blankets and clothing for winter power outages.
• A charged power bank and a printed list of key phone numbers.

Quick Tips

• Save emergency contacts under names that start with A or ICE so they appear first.
• Share your list with family members back home and in Canada.
• Review your contacts every year and after any move.
• Check the Government of Canada’s emergency preparedness guidance for detailed planning help.

Final Thoughts

Knowing which emergency services Canada offers, and how to reach them, gives you peace of mind as you settle in. Spend an hour this week saving numbers, preparing a small kit, and talking through a plan with your household. It is one of the simplest ways to feel safer in your new home.