Sunday marked the first day of Public Safety Telecommunications Week to recognize the hard work and commitment of 911 call takers, dispatchers and technicians across the province. A provincial government news release says telecommunicators are essential in saving lives, ensuring the information provided during a 911 call is accurately relayed to emergency personnel. In Saskatchewan, 911 calls are taken from highly trained professional staff in Regina, Saskatoon and near Prince Albert. Last year, there were over 570,000 calls to 911 in Saskatchewan.