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166 paramedics with 38 of the provinces 56 paramedic services have been awarded medals for their exemplary service, including several here in the region.

The medals are the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal and come from the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs which were awarded late last month.

To qualify for the award paramedics must have served with their respective services for 20 years while providing the highest quality of care, with at least 10 of those years being while on duty in the field, which involved risk to the individual.

Nominees are put forward by their respective organizations and can be active, retired or deceased.

Five of the recipients are with Superior North EMS and the District of Rainy River Services Board.

• James Frizado (SNEMS)
• Darquise Robinson (SNEMS)
• Nicholas Enders (SNEMS)
• Christopher Wielinga (DRRSB)
• Donna O’Sullivan (DRRSB)

“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 have for their communities. It’s an honour to recognize these exemplary members.”

The medal was created in 1994 by former Governor General Romeo LeBlanc, as a component of the Canadian Honours System, with approximately 3338 recipients in Ontario.