Exemplary Service Medal

The Exemplary Service Medal was created on July 7, 1994, to recognize professionals in the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical services who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner, characterized by good conduct, industry and efficiency. They must have been employed with emergency medical services on or after October 31, 1991, and have completed twenty years of exemplary service, including at least ten years in the performance of duties involving potential risk. Persons who have at least ten years of service with emergency medical services may include, in the calculation of their twenty years of service, service completed in another profession, providing this service has not already been recognized by a good conduct, long service or exemplary service medal awarded by the Crown. The Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal may be awarded posthumously.

The chairperson of the awards committee of the province or territory in which the nominee has served submits nominations for the Medal to the Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the executive director of the Canadian Confederation of Ambulance Service Associations. After verifying the eligibility of the nominees, the Advisory Committee submits the applications to the Chancellery, the branch of the Office of the Governor General responsible for the administration of honours. The Chancellery then submits the nominations to the Governor General for his approval. The Medal is formally presented on behalf of the Governor General by the chairperson of the awards committee or by the recipient’s supervisor.

The Medal consists of a circular medal, which features, on the obverse, the star of life superimposed on a maple leaf circumscribed with the words “Exemplary Service – Services Distingues”. The Royal Cipher appears on the reverse. The Medal is suspended by a blue ribbon with two stripes of gold 6 mm in width, equally spaced on the ribbon, and three stripes of ” Philadelphia orange” 2.3 mm in width, centred on the blue parts of the ribbon.

A bar, with a stylized maple leaf centred upon it, may be awarded to a recipient of the Medal in respect of each additional ten-year period of service with emergency medical services, after the twenty-year period recognized by the Medal, providing that the additional service is of such a high standard as to merit official recognition.

The Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal is part of the Canadian Honours System established in 1967.

In November of 2002, Algoma District Paramedic ServicesManagement felt that they should undertake an assessment of staff history in order to recognize outstanding staff merit.

Although Algoma District Paramedic Services itself came into operation January 01, 2001, we hired the majority of staff who had been in the ambulance service for many years. Because of their lifelong dedication to serving the public, Algoma District Paramedic Services was able to make a smooth transition partly due to this dedication.

To honour them, Algoma District Paramedic Services submitted seven names for consideration to the medal’s committee.

At the annual AMEMSO (Association of Municipal Emergency Medical Services of Ontario) conference held in Niagara Falls in October 2003, Six employees received recognition for Exemplary Service throughout their careers. The Medals were bestowed by Major General Richard Rohmer in formal dress ceremonies, on behalf of the Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

Award Recipients:

Manager Thomas Johns 30 Years
Div. Supervisor Henry Alamenciak 20 Years Ops. Supervisor Ronald Hamelin 20 YearsParamedic Donald Dubreuil 20 YearsParamedic Linda Richard 20 YearsParamedic Jim Scott 20 Years

Front row, left to right: Tom Shannon, Sault Ste. Marie EMS;
Henry Alamenciak, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Ron Hamelin, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Don Dubreuil, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Rick Thorold, Sault Ste. Marie CACC;

Rear row, left to right: Jim Scott, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Nancie Scott,Algoma District Paramedic Services; Major General Richard Rohmer, representing the Governor-General; Linda Richard, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Thomas Johns,Algoma District Paramedic Services

Left to right: Tom Shannon, Sault Ste. Marie EMS; Don Dubreuil, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Jim Scott, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Rick Thorold, Sault Ste. Marie CACC; Nancie Scott, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Linda Richard,Algoma District Paramedic Services; Thomas Johns, Algoma District Paramedic Services; David Stokes, Sault Ste. Marie EMS; Ron Hamelin, Algoma District Paramedic Services; Henry Alamenciak, Algoma District Paramedic Services