House numbering campaign to help first responders

Picture this: you call 911 in an emergency situation.

You can hear the sirens come closer. But slowly, the noise fades. Even something like the size of your house number can be the difference between life and death.

The Timmins Police is beginning a campaign to rectify a problem Communications Coordinator Kate Cantin says happens often enough.

“It’s been brought up in the past where this needs to be addressed,” she says.

Identifying your house is also a city by-law (No. 2005-6095). It states the number must be at the front of the building at the main entrance or over the garage.

“Numbers must not be displayed higher than the first story of any building, and must be legible, on a contrasting background with contrasting numbers. Numbers must have a minimum height of 10cms (four inches).”

As for rural sites, any building that’s “obscured from the roadway,” the number has to at least be on a contrasting plate attached to a post at least 1.5 metres (five feet) above the ground at the property line.

In terms of enforcement, Cantin says the purpose of the campaign is awareness. While the by-law states a police officer can enforce it, she says it will be at the discretion of a by-law officer to take further steps.

The by-law—which you can view HERE—adds the city could go in and repair or replace the number without notice and the property owner would be responsible for any cost involved.

The initial cost to install a sign is $30 and replacing one is $50.

As well, the by-law goes on to say a person could be guilty of disobeying the Municipal Act and upon conviction, could be liable to pay a fine up to $5,000.

But if you are in violation of the by-law, you can expect a visit from Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) students. They’re going around town and will hang a friendly reminder on your door handle (seen below).

…And if you think that’s not important enough to clearly identify your house, your local pizza delivery driver could use the extra help as well.