NSHA release:

More than 100 Emergency Health Services (EHS) employees with 20 or more years of service were recognized today, December 4, for their commitment to keeping Nova Scotians safe.

The long-service award recipients include two 45-year employees – Dale Bartlett and John Lewis. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Halifax.

In addition to paramedics, this year’s award recognizes other employees who contribute to Nova Scotia’s emergency health services system. To qualify, employees must have at least 20 years of service, be in good standing, and be involved in or directly support the administration, preparedness and operation of the system.

The 109 recipients have a total of 2,745 years providing and supporting emergency care and saving lives in Nova Scotia. There were six length-of-service milestones recognized (with number of recipients):
– 45 years (two)
– 40 years (three)
– 35 years (four)
– 30 years (19)
– 25 years (41)
– 20 years (40).

Quotes:
“I’m deeply honoured and humbled to receive the 45-Year EHS Long-Service Award. Reflecting on these years through my professional responsibilities, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunities as paramedic, regional manager, principal, director and executive director through the areas of operations, system support and the flagship setup of provincial services in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Ontario. It’s been a privilege to have first-hand experience and to be a part of the evolution of our Emergency Health Services over the past four decades. I want to thank Medavie Health Services and EHS, my colleagues and the leadership for the trust and support they have shown me over the years. Thank you for this recognition – it means more to me than words can express.” 
— Dale Bartlett, Executive Director, System Support and Safety, Emergency Medical Care Inc.

Quick Facts:
– there are about 1,200 paramedics in Nova Scotia
– in 2023, the EHS communications centre received more than 193,000 calls, an average of about 530 calls per day
– there are 254 vehicles and four aircraft in the EHS fleet, including ambulances, patient transfer units, medical transport units, single paramedic response units, helicopters and fixed-wing airplanes
– Emergency Health Services, part of the Department of Health and Wellness, is the regulator of ground and air ambulance services in the province; services are provided by Emergency Medical Care Inc.

Additional Resources:
Information on becoming a paramedic: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/ehs/becoming-a-paramedic.asp