Two paramedics at Health Sciences North were recently awarded the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Medal for Exemplary Service.
The award is given to paramedics who have completed at least 20 years of exceptional service, including at least 10 years in the performance of duties involving exposure to harm.
Paul Myre and Eric Levasseur received their awards at this year’s meeting of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs.
Presenting the awards was Lieutenant General Richard Rohmer, one of the most decorated citizens in Canadian history.
Rohmer served in the Canadian military as a pilot and took part in the D-Day invasion during the Second World War. He is a recipient of the Order of Canada, Order of Ontario, Order of Military Merit, and holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
“Receiving my medal from Lieutenant General Rohmer and shaking his hand was, for me, almost as much of an honour as receiving the medal itself,” Myre said in a press release. “To receive my medal in front of the representatives of all Paramedic Services in Ontario was a moving experience to say the least. To serve my community as a paramedic has truly been a privilege and my love for the profession continues to be the driving force behind why I do what I do.”
Myre is currently regional education and certification co-ordinator at the Centre for Prehospital Care at Health Sciences North.
Levasseur is the paramedic practice co-ordinator based in Sudbury. Both were also long-time paramedics in the field.
“I am extremely honoured to have received this prestigious award,” said Levasseur. “It’s a humbling experience to accept such an honor alongside so many other paramedics in this province. I have worked in the prehospital field for over 20 years and it’s great to be recognized by our own government for something that I am so passionate about.”
