General City News and Planning and Development Applications

Media releases, planning and development applications and other general City updates will continue to be posted on the City’s website and shared through its email subscription service. This ensures the information remains available on the website as a permanent record.

To receive these updates by email, sign up at StJohns.ca/Subscribe.

Waste and recycling

The City will continue to use the Curb It app and its existing subscription service for waste and recycling notifications. Weather-related collection cancellations may also be shared through Alert St. John’s, but residents can continue to rely on Curb It for regular collection information.

If you would like to sign up for Curb It updates, visit CurbItStJohns.ca. 

Police Alerts

Alert St. John’s will not be used for police matters, including shelter-in-place orders or road closures related to police incidents. These communications will continue to be shared through the appropriate channels.

Alert St. John’s also does not replace Alert Ready, Canada's national emergency alerting system. Alert Ready delivers critical, potentially life-saving alerts through television, radio and compatible wireless devices.

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Alert St. John’s uses different phone numbers for text messages and phone calls.

• Text messages: 1-877-812-5052 or 587-327-1361
• Phone calls: 709-576-8003

Be sure to save these numbers in your phone as 'City of St. John's'. Communications may also reference 'Voyent Alert', which is the service provider for the Alert St. John's program. 

By default, all subscribers to the Alert St. John's service are opted-in to receive notifications about all topics. To opt-out of topics:

1. Log in to your account.
2. Click the menu in the top left corner (three lines).
3. Click "My Topics".
4. Select the topics that are relevant to you.

Users cannot opt out of emergency alerts. 

To add more contact methods (text, phone call, or email):

1. Log in to your account.
2. Click the menu in the top left corner (three lines).
3. Click "My Contacts".
4. Click "Add New" in the top right.
5. Select the new contact method.

If you want to change how you receive information by category:

1. Log in to your account.
2. Click the menu in the top left corner (three lines).
3. Click "My Topics".
4. Click the settings icon on the righthand side of the category. 
5. Select your desired contact method for that category.

The system allows you to create and track multiple locations such as school, work, or the address of a family member. Any event or communication related to your tracked locations will be forwarded to you along via your preferred communication channel. To add a location:

1. Log in to your account.
2. Click the menu in the top left corner (three lines).
3. Click "My Locations".
4. Click "Add Location".
5. Type in the new address.
6. Name the location.

No, entering an exact street address is entirely optional and is never strictly required to use the system. However, we encourage residents to use their civic address to receive geographic-based alerts. 

The registration process allows you to choose how much location detail you wish to provide.

No. You need to add a location to your existing account:

1. On the registration page, click "Already Registered?". 
2. Log in using your number or email address.
3. Enter the four digit verification code.
4. Click the menu in the top left corner (three lines).
5. Click "My Locations"
6. Click "Add Location".
7. Add your St. John's address.

Generally, no. Receiving standard text messages and incoming phone calls within Canada is free on almost all modern monthly cellular plans, as they include unlimited incoming messages and minutes. However, costs can apply depending on your specific plan type. If you have any questions about your text plan or data plan, it is best to contact your wireless provider. To learn more, review the Voyent Alert SMS Terms of Service.

No information volunteered or derived is shared or used for marketing or data harvesting purposes. Locational information from your tracked locations is only used to determine its proximity to an alert event and to provide critical context within the communications (such as distance and direction). This information is protected and will not be shared outside of the system.

You can also review Voyent Alert's privacy policy for more information. 

The Alert St. John’s registration portal and notifications are designed to meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines. Accessibility features include:

• The ability to increase text size when viewing notifications.

• Multiple ways to receive alerts, including text message, email and phone call.

• Phone call notifications, providing an option for people who may not have access to the internet or mobile data.

This gives residents more flexibility in how they receive important City updates, helping ensure information reaches people in a way that works for them. If you require support to register, please contact Access St. John's by dialing 311 or 709-754-CITY (2489) or by email at access@stjohns.ca.