Links

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

Links

Community

Naotkamegwanning Crisis Team

Medical Drivers

Health Services

Health Clinic

Treaty 3 Police Service (Non-emergency)

Naotkamegwanning EMS (Non-emergency)

Shawendaasowin Child and Family Services

Women’s Shelter

Animakee Wa Zhing 37 Health Office

Northwest Angle 33 (Dogpaw) Health Station

NWO

Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig (WNHAC)

Kenora Chiefs Advisory Ogimaawabiitong (KCA)

Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Kenora Makwa Patrol

Firefly

Canadian Mental Health Association Kenora Branch

Canadian Mental Health Association Fort Frances Branch

Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services

Women’s Shelter Saakaate House

Sunset Area Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Service

Provincial

Telehealth Ontario

Boots on the Ground – Anonymous peer support for first responders by first responders

ConnexOntario – 24/7 service information for people experiencing problems with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health

Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC)

Ontario Paramedic Association (OPA)

Federal

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

Canadian Mental Health Association

Paramedic Chiefs of Canada

Wellness Together Canada

Jordan’s principle

Non-insured Health Benefits (NIHB)

It Gets Better Canada

LGBT Youthline – Peer support for 2SLGBTQ+

Trans Lifeline

eMentalHealth.ca

Healing in Colour – A directory of BIPOC therapists

Government of Canada

Mental Health Resources for First Responders and Public Safety Personnel

Public Safety Personnel (PSPNET)

Crisis

Naotkamegwanning Crisis Team

Kenora Rainy River District Crisis Response Services

Hope for Wellness Hotline – 24/7 immediate support and crisis intervention for Indigenous people

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line – 24 hour crisis support for former Indian Residential School students and their families

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line

Talk 4 Healing – Help line for Aboriginal women living in northern Ontario

Kids Help Phone

Seniors Safety Line

Talk Suicide Canada

Andrea Joyce

Director of Paramedic Services

Boozhoo all my relatives.

Sherry Blake

Deputy Director of Paramedic Services

Heather Johnson

Community Paramedic Coordinator