EMS Employees Receive Service Medals

pictured l to r: Mark Beaulieu, Roxanne Quenneville, Raymond Tambeau and Kevin Cunningham

Four local Emergency Medical Service (EMS) employees were awarded the Governor General Exemplary Service Medal for their dedication to the field Thursday at the AMEMSO Annual Awards Banquet

Kevin Cunningham, Raymond Tambeau, Roxanne Quenneville and Mark Beaulieu were all awarded with the medal that was created in 1994 to recognise professionals who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner.

Recipients of the award must have completed 20 years of exemplary service, ten of which must have been street level duty involving potential risk to the individual.

EMS Manager Jim Stewart says it is not enough to have just filled the position of paramedic for the past 20 plus years. He says it is first and foremost a medal awarded to those individuals who have dedicated their lives to the provision of care to their fellow citizens, as well as involvement in the community, and strong work ethic..

“They’ve all done something at points in their careers that furthered themselves and further the EMS, it’s not just enough to be a paramedic,” he explains.

Managers from across the province submit recommendations for EMS workers they recognise as being individuals who fits the bill. Stewart says he is proud that North Bay and Area EMS employees continue to be present at the ceremonies.

“When you look at that much experience and that much dedication from that number of staff it’s a good feeling having those people out there that’s for sure.”

“There were 97 this year that received the award, last year there were about 120, so you can see as the years go by that there are less people out there. So when you can still say you have 3 or 4 people in your service that are meeting this criteria, out of the whole province when your talking a thousand medics your talking good faith in North Bay.”

Stewart says a paramedic doesn’t get into the field for a pat on the back or the awards to start with, they get into the trade because they like to help people.

“When you say after 20 years this is what you’ve done, they’re quite proud to be there.”