Eganville – Advanced, well-equipped, shiny, active, bright, spacious, functional, comfortable, strategically located.

Those were just some of the words used to describe the new County of Renfrew paramedic base which was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony here Friday.

Members of Renfrew County council, county staff, the paramedic service, guests, and the public joined in the celebration of the new base located in the former O’Grady’s Garage and Flower Shop at the intersection of Highways 41 and County Road 512.

Emcee and County CAO Craig Kelley said the new base was another progressive and innovative step forward for the county and its local healthcare services.

“This base represents not only a commitment to the health and safety of our community but also the strength of our operating partnerships with provincial and local leadership,” he remarked. “This new paramedic base is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision.

“It’s a facility built with purpose and with the future of our healthcare system in mind, offering both our dedicated paramedic teams an advanced, well-equipped space to provide top-level care to residents throughout the region, especially along the Highway 60 and Highway 41 corridor,” he continued. “By investing in this infrastructure, we’re investing in the well-being of every single resident of Renfrew County.”

Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski recalled how the new base was located on the site of the original O’Grady Bros. Garage.

“It’s great to see the transformation,” he remarked adding he had an opportunity to tour the building prior to the formalities. “It’s also wonderful to see two VTAC (Virtual Treatment and Assessment Centre) examination rooms because that’s a tremendously important part of healthcare here in Renfrew County.”

Mr. Yakabuski noted with pride Renfrew County is the only place in Ontario where VTAC currently exists, saying he is hoping to see an expansion of that soon.

“We are in a situation where not everyone does has access to a family doctor, so to have access to a service like Renfrew County-VTAC, is tremendously important. And we’re grateful and proud it has permanent funding here,” he said. 

He also pointed out Renfrew County is the birthplace of community paramedicine.

“So we are leaders in so many ways and I want to thank Mike Nolan (paramedic chief) and his team here in Renfrew County.

“We may be rural Ontario, but we are the epicenter of good healthcare innovation and continue to be, and I want to thank Mike and all of those people,” he added. “We have innovations and advancements here that others have learned from.”

Stating there are now six paramedic bases across the county, he recounted how when he was a youngster growing up in Barry’s Bay, the ambulance provider was Eganville native Bill Goulet, who used his hearse as an ambulance.

He noted the demands and expectations on healthcare have changed dramatically over 60 years, as well as the technology and services that have been initiated to meet the needs.

“So congratulations to you all. It’s a pleasure and an honour to be here,” he remarked. “We look forward to bringing new and innovative healthcare solutions for the rest of Ontario right here in Renfrew County.”

County Warden Peter Emon said Friday was a day of thank yous, celebrating the opening of a shiny, active service statement not only to residents of the community but to visitors as well. 

“The paramedic station is intended, and it can and will serve as a home for our paramedic service” he stated. “We are well known as leaders and as an established mobile community health service provider”

He said the new station is a statement by the county and its paramedic service to continually pursue and establish service and health equity in the small but geographically large chunk of rural and small-town Ontario.

Warden Emon cited the history of ambulance service by the county, explaining the journey to the opening of the new station started around 2005 when the county started with a collection of orange and white Dodge and Chevy vans, some small and outdated buildings, and staff who had been under-resourced and under-appreciated.

“Slowly, we evolved into Community Paramedicine in the late 2000s,” he remarked.

He shared how the service evolved into what it is today thanks to their adopting of sector best practices, leading technology, advanced diagnostic and treatment regimes and lots of toys.

He thanked Bonnechere Valley for its patience, noting the municipality housed the paramedics in an increasingly crowded municipal complex as they searched out and fleshed out a right-sized solution. He also thanked the residents in and around Eganville, and along the Highway 60 corridor.

“It may have appeared the county was overly and only preoccupied with service provision to the Highway 17 corridor,” he said. “We have always sought to serve you and have been able to demonstrate the service need and the need for this station.

“It will assist or lead in many activities and services which will continue to address the health and service inequity facing our community,” he added.

Warden Emon thanked the paramedic service, noting it has worked with county council and staff to provide services and has embraced its commitment to a nimble responsive service serving at many levels of the community.   

“An inadequate thank you to Chief Nolan and his leadership team who listen to the front line, to the community, to our partners and provide strategic solutions which they then assist with or sometimes lead in presenting to the province,” he said.

He thanked the City of Pembroke for partnering in the delivery of services.

“They recognize as we work to deliver services outside of the city, our practices, our models, our results and our next moves will benefit them,” he said.

He acknowledged the work of Mr. Kelley, the Senior Leadership Team, and Director of Development and Property Jason Davis for shepherding the project through to a successful conclusion and thanked Mr. Yakabuski for working tirelessly for the people of the county.

He credited Mr. Yakabuski for helping to secure extra funds which have been achieved as they work in tandem with him. 

“Thank you for your ongoing hard work … it isn’t a contribution … it is damn hard work,” he remarked.

His final thank you was directed to his peers at the county.

“We do the right thing for our community at the right time because we have the right information about the needs of our community and we develop the right tools, services and models to get our community to a state of health, that reduces health and service inequality that is right for us.”

Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais said he has gained great insight into the many services the county provides since taking office two years ago, noting the city and county have worked closely on issues like the warming centre and mental health/addiction issues in the area. He congratulated the county on the opening of the new base, saying it will serve the residents of the area well for many years.

Bonnechere Valley Township Mayor Jennifer Murphy welcomed Helen and Pat O’Grady, former owners of the building, who rebuilt the present building after a devastating fire in 2007 destroyed the original building.

“What a fantastic reuse of a building that was so well used by everybody in our area,” she said.

She thanked Chief Nolan and Mr. Kelley, adding it was great to see the now retired former Deputy-Chief Brian Leahey who was instrumental in helping secure the property in attendance.

“I really want to thank my county council colleagues who saw this as a great opportunity and I am so thrilled to see so many of you here today.”

She stressed Friday was much more than just the unveiling of a new building.

“It’s the start of a new era for emergency medical care in our community,” she remarked. “This facility represents our shared commitment to enhancing the safety, health, and well-being of every person who lives, works and visits our area.

“The work of our paramedics, their bravery, their compassion, and their dedication, gives us all peace of mind,” she added. “This base is more than just a new facility, it’s a reflection of our community’s commitment to supporting our paramedics to make sure that they have the resources they need to do their job effectively and safely.”

She thanked all the paramedics who will call the new base their home, adding she has no doubt they will prefer it over the old base at the municipal office.

“Your work is the backbone of our emergency response system. Your dedication to saving lives does not go unnoticed. We’re so proud of you and we’re grateful for your service.”

Admaston/Bromley Township Mayor Michael Donohue, chair of the county’s Heath Committee, noted the building the base was housed in, had been part of the fabric of the community since 1953.

“So I think with the re-purposing of this, we will continue to see this facility to serve this community and the broader community as well.”

He acknowledged former BV mayor Zig Mintha, and Jason Davis, Manager of Development and Property at the County, for their initiative in securing the O’Grady building for the base. He acknowledged the Ontario government for its funding contributions to the various programs like the community paramedicine and VTAC.

He also acknowledged the tremendous ally Mr. Yakabuski had been in the endeavour, adding he is assured the paramedics are enjoying their new facility.

Mayor Donohue noted the new base provides enhanced service to the Hwy. 512/Hwy.41 areas, which he referred as the “western uplands.” He said as the new base is being opened, discussions are ongoing about a new paramedic base in Pembroke, and possibly another in Whitewater Region.

He said it has been an incredible journey to get to this point, stressing it was a collaborative effort by many stakeholders and individuals, including county council.

North Algona Wilberforce Township Mayor James Brose, chair of the Development and Property Committee, pointed out the two bays at the end of the current building were all the space the service had at the previous location.

“So, what a great facility and what a great advantage now, not just for the community, but for every one of our paramedic service members to have space to operate in a much more comfortable, and much more efficient and effective service delivery building,” he said.

He thanked the members of his committee, the staff, and the paramedic team for their commitment to getting the job done right. 

Mayor Brose said the building, which was built in 2008, boasts 2,500 square feet of office space, shower and change room facilities, kitchen and dining area, a lounge, quiet quarters, and a meeting space, in addition to the 4,000 square foot, four-bay garage.

“On behalf of the county, we want to thank the O’Grady family for creating such a character building in the community in which we are standing today and for being great partners to work with through the transition of this property.”

He thanked the construction firm of T.S. General Contracting for its efforts on the near completion of the $500,000 project.

“Thank you all again for coming to the opening of this fantastic facility that I believe will provide timely service to the residents of Renfrew County.”

He concluded by saying he hoped someday some members of Erin Dick’s Grade 2/3 class who joined in the festivities from nearby St. James School might be employees at the base.

Paramedic Chief Mike Nolan had the last words and he thanked Mr. Kelley for “doing a lot of the heavy lifting to align the people, policies, practices, to make days like today possible”.

“I’d like to start by saying, ‘Welcome to our new home,’,” he stated, adding he believes that is exactly what the new base represents. “And thanks to the O’Grady’s for transitioning this building into really what I would consider jewel of the community.

“This isn’t just a paramedic base. This represents to me and all the councillors at county council and the City of Pembroke, and John, one of the hardest working MPPs in all of Ontario, a vision of change, that is your vision, their vision,” he added.

He credited Dr. John Fitzsimon for doing an incredible job of negotiating with the province to remunerate the physicians in the VTAC program so they can be available every day of the week.

He said VTAC had an incredible team who are available 24/7 for those without a family doctor. Chief Nolan also acknowledged the members of the Renfrew County Communications Centre, who are the first voices one hears when calling 911.         

“They’re the ones who give you instruction over the phone how to care for your loved one, and they’re the ones who arrange the 911 paramedics and the resources we have so expertly to be able to afford you care.”

He noted the VTAC and mesa programs are about making sure the 911 paramedics are available for people who require emergency service.

“We’re not here, as odd as it may sound, to take care of the public. We’re here to help the public take care of themselves.

Chief Nolan said as programs like mesa and VTAC advance and mature, they become good examples of how the paramedics really are an implement for the people.

“They are a way of helping people feel more comfortable and confident living in rural Ontario,” he noted.

He expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped give the paramedic service the tools they require to do their jobs better.

“When you go upstairs into the lounge, you’ll see a homelike setting. Our goal is to create a relaxing environment so that in between those moments of chaos, in between the business of being a paramedic, that they have the opportunity to recharge their batteries.”