Veteran first responder, paramedic, honoured for their EMS service
Two Saskatchewan Protective Services Medals were handed out in Prince Albert at Parkland Ambulance Care Ltd.
Allison Irvine, a first responder, and Darren Russell, an advanced care paramedic, were chosen to receive the honour for their dedication to the EMS field in Saskatchewan.
Irvine becomes the first medical responder to be given the medal.
Her father was the fire chief in Shellbrook in 1993 when she joined the Shellbrook Volunteer Fire Department.
“It was a particularly bad year for accidents and we never had anyone really trained to do the medical side and then I read in the Shellbrook Chronicle about a program the Parkland Ambulance offered,” said Irvine.
That prompted her to take advanced medical training. Since then she’s spent 27 years serving the community of Shellbrook and area.
“It’s a passion that I have, and as long as I can still feel and help people in their time of need, that’s all the motivation I need,” said Irvine.
Russell has worked as a primary care paramedic with Parkland Ambulance in Prince Albert for 25 years.
“I’ve never been in this profession for an award. It’s just a privilege and honour to be able to work for a Parkland Ambulance and the heath authority,” said Russell.
He says he first got into the profession because he enjoyed helping people.
The Saskatchewan Protective Services Medal is an honour given to protective services providers and focuses attention on the efforts and work of police, fire and emergency professionals, and others working in the field of safety and security.
Recipients must be personnel with 25 years of service in Saskatchewan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.