25 March 2024
By Tom Sasvari -December 29, 2023
Local paramedic Dwayne Elliott, of Manitowaning, left, and Daniel Tremblay of Espanola received their Governor General Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal bars for providing exemplary emergency medical services for 30 years on December 13 at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs president Michael Sanderson and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, presented the two paramedics with their 30-year bar.
TORONTO—Two paramedics within the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (MSDSB) area, including one from Manitoulin, have been recognized for their efforts, having received 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, Sylvia Jones, presented 65 paramedics with their first, second or third bars to the long-serving and deserving paramedics on December 13.
“Dwayne Elliott of Manitowaning and Daniel Tremblay of Espanola received their Governor General Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal bars for providing exemplary emergency medical services for 30 years on December 13 at Queen’s Park in Toronto,” said Donna Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer of MSDSB. “Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs president Michael Sanderson and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones presented Mr. Elliott and Mr. Tremblay their 30-year bar; these two are long-serving, deserving paramedics.”
“As the CAO of MSDSB, I am extremely proud of these two paramedics for all that they have accomplished in their roles over the years and the significant impact that they have made on the lives of those we serve,” said Ms. Stewart.
Mr. Elliott told The Expositor, “My award is for 30 years of service, although I am finishing my thirty-third year as a paramedic. I’ve always been on the Island, based out of Little Current, since I started.” Mr. Elliott said he first started as a paramedic in December, 1990, starting with Bill Cranston of Manitoulin Ambulance Service at that time.”
“There have been some good improvements made over the years in our profession. We have better equipment and training, and the profession has developed over the years with the advent of defibrillators, and being able to administer drugs in the field when a patient requires it,” said Mr. Elliott.
“It was a very nice ceremony, with paramedics from across Ontario receiving the awards,” said Mr. Elliott. He pointed out he joined the first response team in Manitowaning when he was 16-years-old and joined the Assiginack Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 19. He was hired as an ambulance paramedic when he was 19 years old.
The paramedics received a ribbon and medal at their 20-year service recognition, and a bar for every five years after, with the first bar signifying being a paramedic for 10 years.
The late Governor General of Canada, Romeo LeBlanc, created the medal in 1994 as part of the Canadian Honours System. This medal recognizes paramedics who have provided the highest standard of care and conduct. To qualify, at least 10 years of service must have been in the field, on duty, involving potential risk.