â ď¸ The "911" Golden Rule:
- Call 911 IF: Someone is dying, there is a fire, a crime is happening now, or you see a gun/weapon.
- DO NOT Call 911 IF: You lost your wallet, your landlord is yelling at you, or you have a fever. (Call Non-Emergency instead).
- Language Help: If you can't speak English in panic, say "Hindi" or "Punjabi" to the 911 operator. They will connect an interpreter in 30 seconds.
đ 1. The "Big Three" (Life & Death)
Save these as "A1 Police", "A2 Ambulance" in your contacts so they appear top of the list.
Crisis Type | Who to Call | What to Say |
Life Threatening (Fire, Heart Attack, Gun) | 911 | Location is [Address]. Someone is not breathing. |
Suicide / Mental Crisis | 988 (New 24/7 Helpline) | I am feeling unsafe. I need to talk. |
Theft / Lost Item (Not an emergency) | 311 (or local Police Non-Emergency) | I need to file a police report for a stolen laptop. |
Medical Advice (Fever/Flu) | 811 (Free Nurse Line) | I have a fever of 102. Should I go to the hospital? |
đŽđł 2. The "Desi" Support Network (Consulate)
Call these if you lose your passport, get arrested, or a student dies.
đ Toronto (Ontario Jurisdiction)
- Consulate General of India: 365 Bloor St E, Toronto.
- Emergency Number (After Hours): +1-647-668-9433.
- Email:
cons.toronto@mea.gov.in
đ Vancouver (BC Jurisdiction)
- Consulate General of India: 325 Howe St, Vancouver.
- Emergency Number (After Hours): +1-604-551-9626.
- Email:
cons.vancouver@mea.gov.in
đ Ottawa (High Commission)
- Emergency Number: +1-613-744-3751.
đĄ When to call the Consulate:
- Lost Passport: They issue an "Emergency Certificate" to travel.
- Arrest/Detention: They can ensure you get legal rights (but they cannot get you out of jail).
- Death of Student: They help transport the body back to India.
đ 3. House & Utility Emergencies
If you smell gas, do NOT turn on a light switch (it can spark an explosion).
đ Ontario (Toronto/Brampton)
- Smell Gas? (Rotten Egg smell): Call Enbridge at 1-866-763-5427.
- Power Outage: Call Hydro One (1-800-434-1235) or Alectra (Brampton).
đ British Columbia (Vancouver/Surrey)
- Smell Gas? Call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911.
- Power Outage: Call BC Hydro (1-800-224-9376).
đĄď¸ 4. Campus Security (On-Campus)
If you are being followed or feel unsafe at college.
- Safety App: Download your college app (e.g., Seneca Safe, UofT Safety).
- "Walk Safe" Program:
- Every Canadian campus has this.
- Call Security, and a guard will walk you to your car or bus stop at night. It is free. Use it.
- Sexual Assault:
- Most colleges have a dedicated "Sexual Violence Support Centre." They provide free lawyers and counseling, separate from the police.
đł 5. Lost Wallet Protocol (The 30-Minute Rule)
If your wallet is stolen, do this in order:
- Lock Cards: Open your Bank App (CIBC/Scotia) -> Select Card -> Click "Lock Card" immediately.
- Call Bank: Call the number on the back of your card (or Google it) to report "Fraud."
- File Police Report: Call non-emergency or go online to file a report. You need the Report Number to get a new Driver's License/ID.
- Credit Bureaus: Call Equifax (1-800-465-7166) and TransUnion to place a "Fraud Alert" on your name so the thief cannot take loans in your name.
TVTâs Final Message:
"Save this page as a PDF on your phone. When you are panicking, you won't have internet or the brainpower to Google numbers. Be safe, be smart, and look out for each other."