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Emergency Medical Services

Current Skill Set

Primary Care Paramedics in Ontario are highly trained and have many advanced skills that allow them to provide care in accordance with the Basic Life Support Patient Care Standards as well as to provide care under numerous medical directives as set out in the Advanced Care Life Support Patient Care Standards once certified and authorized to by their regional base hospital physician.

In Northwestern Ontario our regional base hospital program is the Northwestern Ontario Prehospital Care Program.

 

Our primary care paramedics are authorized and certified by the medical director of the NWRPCP in the following advanced skills:

  • Cardiac monitoring
  • ECG interpretation
  • Supraglottic airway
  • CPAP
  • Manual defibrillation (adult and pediatric)
  • 12 lead interpretation
  • Glucose blood sampling
  • Emergency childbirth (OB delivery, external uterine massage, placental delivery, umbilical cord management, Apgar score)
  • Intravenous therapy (IV saline lock, fluid bolus)
  • Tracheostomy tube suctioning
  • Tracheostomy reinsertion
  • Administration of numerous medications

How to Become a Paramedic

To become a primary care paramedic in Ontario you’ll first need to complete a 2-year diploma program at a recognized Ontario College. Each schools’ requirements may vary but typically colleges require the following:

  • High school graduation diploma (or mature student status)
  • Grade 12 English course
  • Grade 11/12 Mathematics course
  • Grade 11/12 Biology
  • Grade 11/12 Chemistry
  • Current Standard First Aid (or equivalent) certificate
  • Current CPR (C) – Basic Rescuer level (or equivalent) certificate
  • Class 'F' Drivers License – Ontario
  • Current Immunizations (including Hepatitis B, Chicken Pox -if needed-, & flu shot recommended)
  • Be Communicable Disease free
  • Be physically fit & able to lift
  • Possess good communication skills & be able to fluently read & write English (French also required for francophone programs)

After graduating from college, you will have to write and pass the Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant (A-EMCA) certification exam. The A-EMCA is an all day written exam, 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon, which tests your knowledge learned through your PCP college program. To be eligible for employment as a Primary Care Paramedic you must have successfully passed the A-EMCA with a minimum of 70%.

The next step is to become employed by a paramedic service. Every person who wishes to practice as a paramedic in Ontario, must be employed by a paramedic service. Once you have received an offer of employment the paramedic service will send a certification request to their regional base hospital. You must be certified by the medical director of an Ontario base hospital program before you can work as a paramedic. Once you have passed your base hospital certification, you may begin work with the paramedic service who hired you. Please visit Ontario Colleges for more information and a list of colleges.

Become a Paramedic in Ontario

If you have been trained as a paramedic outside of Ontario and are interested in becoming eligible to work as a paramedic in Ontario to learn more.

Ministry of Health

Andrea Joyce

Director of Paramedic Services

Boozhoo all my relatives.

My name is Andrea Joyce. I am a wife to a supportive and loving husband, Donald. Daughter of an inspiring IRS Survivor and devoted Polish mother, and sister to one loving sibling. I am a fierce dog mom to 2 cute yet devilish Boston Terriers. Although I grew up in the Niagara Region, my family’s home community is Fort Albany on the Coast of James Bay. I am a proud Oji-Cree woman that lives in Treaty #1 territory yet works in Treaty #3 Territory and I am striving to reclaim my culture.
I am the Director of Paramedic Services for Naotkamegwanning FN Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and I have been with the service since it opened in late 2007. I worked as a front-line paramedic for 7 plus years, as a supervisor for 4 years and I have been in my current position since January of 2018.
Since then, we have been working hard to modernize the service. We want to elevate it to the point where we can say we truly support our frontline heroes while striving to advocate for our patients and community members by providing stellar health care but simultaneously honoring their culture when possible. And we wish to learn how to fill local healthcare gaps by broadening our services.
We are amid instituting a Community Paramedic Program that we hope will supplement existing services by partnering with various local services and agencies. This service is intended to; work alongside our current EMS and existing community services and not replace them and do our part to build a better healthcare system by equalizing Indigenous Health Care guided by the TRTC’s: Calls to Action. There is so much work to be done. And so much to learn.
I obtained a diploma in Emergency Health Services Management from Dalhousie University in my first year in the position and continue to take courses to improve my leadership skills and style. I sit on various Boards and committees to further the above statements and improve the communities that I serve.
Within Naotkamegwanning, I have participated in the Drug Task Force and the Life Promotion Initiative. In NWO, I have been on the board of Victim Services of Kenora and Area since 2018, sitting as its Chair since 2019. Last year I joined the Board of the Northwest Community Legal Clinic. I sit on a handful of committees within the profession. The few I feel most accomplished with are the Ontario Paramedic Memorial Monument Organization, EMS Exemplary Medal Committee, and Physiological Health and Wellness Committee. This month I joined the Provincial Mental Health Advisory Table. And Nationally I have spoken at the Paramedics Across Canada expo on the Indigenous P.A.R.T.Y. Program in partnership with TBRHSC and I have to spend some time with the working group to Update the National Occupational Competency Profile for Paramedics while addressing Indigenous needs such as cultural training for paramedics.
I work hard to leave something better than when I found it, but I also enjoy my downtime. I can often be found curled up with a book, quilting, and dabbling in other crafts. Recently I have learned to make mukluks, and moccasins and taken several desperate stabs at beading. The old adage “practice makes perfect” comes to mind and I will need years of practice to feel confident on the beading front. Wish me luck.
Miigwetch,
Andrea

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Sherry Blake

Deputy Director of Paramedic Services

Hello, my name is Sherry Blake, and I am the Deputy Director of Paramedic Services here in Naotkamegwanning First Nation. I started my Paramedic career here in Naotkamegwanning Sept 2010. I have worked on the ambulance as a Primary Care Paramedic since then. In April 2019 I advanced my career with the community EMS service and accepted the Deputy Director of Paramedic Services position. After accepting the position of Deputy Director, I worked hard to complete the 2-year Paramedic Leadership Fundamentals program from Conestoga College all the while working full-time and being a single Mom present in my 2 children’s final years navigating high school in 2019-2021.
It has been an honour and privilege to be part of such an amazing organization and I am thankful each and every day to work alongside such a great team here at Naotkamegwanning EMS. Serving Naotkamegwanning First Nation and the surrounding communities has been a pleasure and privilege. The relationships that have been created with the community have developed my understanding and knowledge of this amazing community.
When I am not at work you can find me out and about this beautiful region of NWO that we call home. I enjoy the lake as much as I can as my passions involve swimming, fishing, and boating. To relax and unwind I prefer to hike, snowmachine, or walk my dog. As well, I stay busy with outside chores such as firewood and yard maintenance.
My family is my backbone and strength to get me through tough times. I stay close with my family, as we are all fortunate to live in NWO. My children are grown but I get to enjoy all the joys of being an Aunt to my nieces and nephews. They do keep me on my toes and young at heart.

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Heather Johnson

Community Paramedic Coordinator

My name is Heather Johnson and I have been employed full-time with Naotkamegwanning EMS for almost 9 years! I live in Fort Frances with my partner Willie and his 2 girls.
I have 2 children of my own. My son is a police officer with an 8 year old girl and 2 1/2 year old boy. My daughter is a nurse with a 3week old baby boy!
I have recently accepted the position as the Coordinator of the Community Paramedicine program.

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