Paramedics Recognized for Decades of Experience
NOTE: A list of recipients follows this release.
Fifty paramedics, each with 20 or more years of experience, received long-service awards today, May 27, from Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine.
Combined, these Emergency Health Services paramedics have 1,282 years of experience caring for Nova Scotians.
"When Nova Scotians are hurt, when we're scared and we need help right away, we are fortunate to have highly trained, experienced paramedics ready to answer the call," said Mr. Glavine.
"Today, paramedics are playing a greatly expanded role in our health-care system, and their talents and expertise are helping to improve the quality of health care in their communities."
Paramedics now provide primary care in some communities, working alongside family physicians and nurses. In the Halifax area, paramedics work in nursing homes to provide care to residents through the Extended Care Paramedic program.
They also help provide 24-hour access to emergency care in Collaborative Emergency Centres across the province.
There are more than 800 Emergency Health Services paramedics working across Nova Scotia. Paramedics and others who have provided emergency health services to Nova Scotians for 20 years or more are eligible for the Paramedic Long Service Award.
The following is a list of Paramedic Long Service Award recipients:
Richard Baglole, 31 years, Chester Basin, Lunenburg Co. Dale Bartlett, 36 years, Bible Hill, Colchester Co. Martin Bell, 30 years, Conquerall Bank, Lunenburg Co. John Bessonette, 26 years, Hammonds Plains Kevin Boudreau, 26 years, Arichat, Richmond Co. Douglas Bourque, 25 years, Middle West Pubnico, Yarmouth Co. Harvey Cameron, 20 years, Glace Bay John Campbell, 20 years, Parrsboro, Cumberland Co. Richard Campbell, 28 years, Berwick, Kings Co. Bruce Cox, 20 years, Bedford Allan Cranton, 26 years, Bridgewater Jeffery Currie, 20 years, East Ship Harbour, HRM Craig Deveau, 20 years, Whites Lake, HRM Charles Dixon, 25 years, Port Hawkesbury Allister Edwards, 25 years, Port Caledonia, Cape Breton Regional Municipality Richard Foley, 31 years, Lower Sackville Gary Galley, 25 years, Berwick, Kings Co. Jimmy Hogan, 20 years, Sydney James Holmes, 20 years, Shelburne Walter Howard, 26 years, Digby Lisa Hutt, 20 years, Port Dufferin, HRM Craig Jamieson, 20 years, Guysborough County Laurence Kaizer, 20 years, Hubbards Paul Landriault, 20 years, Port Hawkesbury Robert Langille, 30 years, Tatamagouche, Colchester Co. John Lewis, 36 years, Glace Bay Chess MacDonald, 26 years, Sydney Peter MacPherson, 25 years, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg Co. Stephen McCulloch, 30 years, Shubenacadie, Hants Co. Kerry McNeil, 20 years, Port Morien, CBRM Steve Menzies, 26 years, Berwick, Kings Co. Shawn Mills, 20 years, Sherbrooke, Guysborough Co. Chris Mizuik, 20 years, Amherst Neil Mooy, 26 years, Upper Tantallon Gerald Parfitt, 36 years, Falmouth, Hants Co. Gordon Parker, 40 years, Truro Bruce Parks, 20 years, Lunenburg Stephen Pertus, 35 years, Sydney Jonathan Pippy, 20 years, Bridgewater Lionel Robichaud, 20 years, Meteghan, Digby Co. Earl Russell, 31 years, Berwick, Kings Co. Anthony Sanders, 20 years, New Glasgow Dwayne Semple, 30 years, Tatamagouche, Colchester Co. Noel Simon, 31 years, Eskasoni Shane Strong, 26 years, Ste. Anne du Ruisseau, Yarmouth Co. Greg Theriault, 25 years, Falmouth, Hants Co. Dale Traer, 26 years, Waverley Robert Veniott, 30 years, Amherst Dean Vokey, 25 years, Tusket,Yarmouth Co. Keith Wilcox, 32 years, Glace Bay