News release

Paramedics Honoured for Decades of Service

Health and Wellness

NOTE: A list of recipients follows this release.


Fifty-two paramedics with between 20 and 40 years of experience caring for Nova Scotians were recognized for their service today, May 26, by Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine.

"We have always relied on our highly trained paramedics to provide expert care in emergencies,"said Mr. Glavine. "More and more, they're also taking an expanded role in our communities, working in teams to improve and expand the care available across the province.

"These paramedics have seen many changes in their twenty-plus years of practice, and Nova Scotians are grateful for their expertise."

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.

In recent years, paramedics have taken on an expanded role in the health-care system. They 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.

There are more than 800 Emergency Health Services paramedics working in Nova Scotia.


The following is a list of recipients:

Jonathan Akin, 20 years, Kentville, Kings Co. Darrell Bardua, 25 years, Cow Bay, Halifax Regional Municipality Gregory Bayers, 25 years, Dayspring, Lunenburg Co. John Bignell, 20 years, Hubley, Halifax Regional Municipality Thomas Bird, 20 years, Amherst, Cumberland Co. Paul Blake, 25 years, Port Maitland, Yarmouth Co. Donald Campbell, 35 years, Inverness Gary Dares, 30 years, Mahone Bay Paul Dawson, 20 years, Port Williams, Kings Co. Allan Day, 20 years, New Glasgow Randy Dean, 25 years, Truro Terrance Turnbull, 30 years, Tatamagouche Tony Eden, 40 years, Dartmouth Robert Fitzgerald, 30 years, New Haven, Victoria Co. Douglas Fleet, 25 years, Guysborough County Jeffrey Fraser, 25 years, Falmouth, Hants Co. Odette Gaudet, 20 years, Church Point, Digby Co. Ritchie Gilby, 20 years, Enfield Paul Gouthro, 25 years, Sydney Mines Kevin Guy, 20 years, Dartmouth Franklin Hubbard, 20 years, Barrington, Shelburne Co. Brendan Jay, 20 years, New Glasgow John Johnston, 20 years, Bridgetown Allan Keddy, 25 years, Blockhouse, Lunenburg Co. Gary Kerr, 25 years, Dartmouth Derek LeBlanc, 25 years, Maryvale, Antigonish Co. Lorraine LeBlanc, 25 years, Cheticamp Michael Lockett, 20 years, Lawrencetown, Annapolis Co. Krista MacDonald, 20 years, Baddeck, Kevin MacMullin, 35 years, Glace Bay Allan MacPherson, 25 years, Sydney Peter Maillet, 25 years, Meteghan, Digby Co. John May, 25 years, Bridgewater Todd Mills, 25 years, Truro Heights William Muirhead, 35 years, Stellarton Victor Murphy, 35 years, North River, Colchester Co. Dan O'Neill, 25 years, Milford, Hants Co. Andrew Pace, 20 years, Dartmouth William Pero, 20 years, Sydney Mines Greg Pineo, 20 years, Nine Mile River, Hants Co. Brad Reid, 20 years, Middleton Linus Roach, 25 years, Cheticamp Christopher Spencer, 25 years, Summerville, Hants Co. John Stewart, 20 years, Timberlea Peter Tanner, 20 years, Bridgewater Greg Theriault, 25 years, Falmouth, Hants Co. Glen Diggdon, 30 years, Yarmouth John Walker, 25 years, Hubbards, Kathy White, 20 years, Windsor Keith Wilcox, 30 years, Glace Bay Chipman Wiles, 20 years, Annapolis Royal Richard Wilson, 20 years, Pugwash