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Emergency and helpline numbers in Canada and Toronto

The numbers to save on your first day in Toronto: 911 for emergencies, the Toronto Police non-emergency line, 311 for City services, 211 for community and social services, Health811, the 988 suicide crisis helpline and the Ontario Poison Centre.

Checked 8 Oct 2026
Applies to
Everyone living in or visiting Canada. The Toronto and Ontario numbers below apply in Toronto; other cities and provinces have their own non-emergency lines.
Effort
Low effort
Time needed
Five minutes to save the numbers in your phone
Cost
Calls to 911 and to the helplines listed are free
When
On your first day
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. Emergencies
  3. Toronto non-emergency lines
  4. Health and mental health
  5. Accessibility
  6. Watch out
  7. Tips
  8. Official links
  9. In your plan
  10. Sources
  11. Related guides

911 is the emergency number everywhere in Canada for police, fire and ambulance. Use it whenever someone's life, health, safety or property is in immediate danger, or a crime is in progress. For everything else, Toronto and Ontario have dedicated lines that keep 911 free for emergencies. The City of Toronto's Make the right call page explains which number to use.

Emergencies

  • 911 - police, fire and paramedics. Also call 911 for medical emergencies such as chest pain, severe bleeding or signs of a stroke. Tell the call-taker your exact address or location first.
  • Ontario Poison Centre: 1-800-268-9017 - free advice about a possible poisoning, 24 hours a day. If the person's life is in danger, call 911 first.

Toronto non-emergency lines

  • Toronto Police non-emergency: 416-808-2222, or **TPS (877) from a mobile phone (24/7). For crimes that are no longer happening, such as a break-in where nobody is still on the property, dangerous driving or disruptive behaviour that is not an immediate threat, and following up on an earlier report. Some non-emergency matters, such as theft, fraud, illegal parking and property damage, can be reported online at tps.ca/report.
  • 311 - City of Toronto services, 24/7: noise and property complaints, building conditions, waste collection, roads, trees and animal issues.
  • Central Intake: 416-338-4766 - emergency shelter in Toronto (you can also call 311).

Health and mental health

  • 811 (Health811) - free advice from a registered nurse, 24/7, for minor health issues such as cold and flu symptoms, and help finding the right care. TTY 1-866-797-0007.
  • 988 - the Suicide Crisis Helpline. Call or text 988 any time, 24 hours a day, if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide.
  • 211 - referrals to mental health, substance use and other community and social services. Multilingual, 24/7.

Accessibility

711 connects you to relay services if you are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment.

Watch out

Do not call 911 for general questions, noise complaints or crimes that are over: use the non-emergency line or 311 instead.

988 is for suicide crisis support; if someone's safety is at immediate risk, call 911 right away.

Tips

  • Save 911, 416-808-2222, 311, 811 and 988 in your phone, and teach children when to call 911.
  • Know the address of where you are staying, including the unit number and nearest cross-street, before you need it.

In your plan

  • Save the emergency and helpline numbers

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 6 Apr 2027.

  1. City of TorontoOfficial source
    Make the right call (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026

    Modified September 16, 2026. 911, police non-emergency *TPS (*877) or 416-808-2222 (24/7), 311, 211, 811 (TTY 1-866-797-0007), 988, Central Intake 416-338-4766, 711, tps.ca/report.

  2. 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Public Health Agency of Canada)Official source
    9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026
  3. Ontario Poison CentreOfficial source
    Ontario Poison Centre (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026

    Toll-free 1 800 268 9017, 24 hours a day.

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