65 Ontario paramedics recognized for excellence

Yesterday, 65 Ontario paramedics received their Governor General Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal bars for providing exemplary emergency medical services for 30, 40 and 50 years. Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvie Jones presented the First, Second or Third Bars to these long-serving, deserving paramedics. The late Governor General of Canada, Romeo LeBlanc, created the Medal in 1994 as part of the Canadian Honours System. This recognition recognizes paramedics who have provided the highest standard of care and conduct. To...

166 Ontario paramedics receive exemplary service medals

On Thursday, September 28, the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC) awarded 166 paramedics the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal. These paramedics come from 38 of the province's 56 paramedic services. “On behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, the OAPC is honoured to present the medal to so many dedicated paramedics in Ontario,” said OAPC President, Chief Michael Sanderson. “Paramedics in Ontario have demonstrated every day the caring and compassion they...

Exceptional individuals recognized for outstanding contributions to paramedicine

[gallery size="medium" link="file" ids="16548,16549,16550"] At our annual Honours and Awards Dinner and Ceremony held at Blue Mountain on September 28, 2023, we were pleased to hand out three special awards to deserving recipients. The awards included the OAPC Humanitarian Award, the Richard J. Armstrong Leadership Award for outstanding leadership and the OAPC President's Award for significant contributions to paramedicine in Ontario. The OAPC Humanitarian Award recipient is: Jackie Ussher of Perth County Paramedic Service The Richard J. Armstrong Leadership Award recipient is: Chief Tom Reid of...

Inaugural wish granted out of OAPC “Wishes Forever” Make-a-Wish Canada® Legacy Fund

Thanks to the generous donations and fundraising efforts of our members, we're pleased to announce that we have been able to grant our first Make-a-Wish Canada® legacy fund wish to Ivy, a resilient 9-year-old leukemia survivor from Clayton, Ontario. For over a decade, the OAPC, in collaboration with its member paramedic services across Ontario, have been raising money for Make-A-Wish Canada® through the OAPC “Wishes Forever” legacy fund. The objective was to amass a capital trust fund of $250,000; the interest...

Celebrating Paramedic Services Recognition Day: Wrapping up a memorable Paramedic Services Week 2023 

Today is the last day of Paramedic Services Week 2023, which has been all about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in paramedicine.     Each day of the week had a specific theme aimed at encouraging conversations about what inclusivity and cultural competence looks like within the profession.  “Paramedic services’ approach to diversity is simple. It's about embracing everyone within the service and their communities,” OAPC President Peter F. Dundas says. “By cultivating a culture where all employees can bring their best selves to work, to deploying...