Emergency and safety numbers
Who to call in Winnipeg in an emergency, who to call when it is urgent but not an emergency, and the numbers worth saving before you need them.
Call 911 when someone is seriously hurt or in danger, when there is a fire, when a crime is in progress, or when you witness a serious collision. Stay on the line, give the address first, and do not hang up until the operator tells you to.
When it is urgent but not an emergency
Calling 911 for something that is not an emergency delays help for people who need it, and in some provinces it can carry a fine. Every police service publishes a non-emergency line for exactly this. Use it to report a crime after the fact, a property damage collision with no injuries, a noise complaint, or to give information about an incident.
- Police non-emergency (Winnipeg Police Service)204-986-6222
For emergencies call 911; police non-emergencies should not go to 311.
Who handles what
| Situation | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Someone is seriously injured, in danger, or a crime is happening now | 911 |
| Crime already happened, no one in danger, property damage | Police non-emergency line |
| You are in mental-health crisis or having thoughts of suicide | 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline, or 911 if there is immediate danger |
| Poisoning or a suspected overdose | Poison control, or 911 if the person is unresponsive |
| Health advice that is not an emergency | The provincial nurse line — see the health care page |
| A pothole, missed bin collection, water leak on public land | The city's own service line — see city services |
| Power outage, gas smell, downed line | The utility, not the city |
Worth saving before you need it
- 988 — the Suicide Crisis Helpline, available across Canada by call or text, in English and French.
- 811 — the provincial nurse advice line in most provinces. Not for emergencies, but it will tell you whether something needs emergency care.
- 211 — community and social services referral, for food, shelter, or financial help.
- 1-800-668-6868 — Kids Help Phone, for anyone under 20.
- Your insurer’s emergency claims line, and your building manager if you rent.
Preparing for the emergencies this region actually gets
Emergency preparedness advice is regional, not generic. Winnipeg’s own emergency management page — linked from city services — sets out the risks specific to this area and what the city expects residents to do. The provincial emergency management organisation, listed on the provincial pages, handles wider events and issues public alerts.
Official sources
Details such as fares, fees, hours and program rules change. Always confirm against the official source before acting on anything time-sensitive.