County of Renfrew Paramedic Service

11/21/2025

A powerful patient story from right here in Pembroke.
We’re grateful for the teamwork across paramedicine that helps keep Renfrew County families safe. Ornge 👏👏
Full story below.

11/21/2025

Pembroke: The date is set!

The County of Renfrew Paramedic Service Food & Toy Drive is happening:
Pembroke Walmart – 1108 Pembroke St. E

Sunday, December 7, 2025
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We’ll be collecting new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items to support families through:

• Kiwanis Club of Pembroke Kiwanis Club of Pembroke
• St. Joseph’s Food Bank . Joseph's Food Bank
• The Petawawa Pantry

Let’s come together, Pembroke, and make a big impact this holiday season. 🎁✨

11/21/2025

Congratulations to the 49 Ontario paramedics who yesterday received their Governor General of Canada EMS Exemplary Service Medal bars for providing exemplary emergency medical services for at least 30 years. See the full recipient list here: https://www.oapc.ca/49-ontario-paramedics-recognized-30-years-exemplary-service/

11/20/2025

This week, we honour and celebrate Rob Blackwell, who is retiring after nearly 35 years of service with the Renfrew County Paramedic Service.

Rob began his career part-time in Pembroke, later working on the SKYMED helicopters, and spending his early years serving the communities of Eganville, then Petawawa.

One of Rob’s greatest legacies is the work he poured into the Public Access Defibrillator Program. Under his leadership, the program grew from 30 defibrillators to more than 400 across Renfrew County, dramatically increasing lifesaving capacity in our communities.

Never one to stop learning, Rob completed the additional training required to become a VTAC Paramedic, providing care in our clinical setting while continuing to mentor others.

For the past 14 years, Rob has also served as an Acting Commander, earning the respect of colleagues, partner agencies, and the community.

His passion for public education is unmatched, and he plans to continue teaching CPR and first aid as even in retirement.

Rob, thank you for your leadership, your compassion, and the countless moments of quiet professionalism that made a difference when people needed it most.

Congratulations on a remarkable career, and enjoy every minute of this next chapter.

11/20/2025

Congratulations to Paramedics Robert Blackwell and Sean Plunkett, recipients of the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal 30-Year Bar.

This honour recognizes three decades of outstanding, exemplary service in paramedicine. With more than 14,000 practicing paramedics across Ontario, receiving a 30-year bar places them among a very small and distinguished group of professionals whose careers have had a significant impact on the communities they serve.

Paramedic Chief Mike Nolan joined Rob and Sean at the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs’ awards ceremony at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, where both paramedics received their medals on behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

Please join us in congratulating Rob and Sean on this incredible milestone and in thanking them for more than 30 years of dedicated service to the residents of Renfrew County.

11/20/2025

I always appreciate the opportunity to connect with Ontario's world-class paramedic chiefs.

Thank you to the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs for joining us today and for everything you do to ensure Ontario families receive the care they need, when they need it most.

11/20/2025

Under the leadership of FordNation and Michael Kerzner , our government is investing $50,000 to support first responders here in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.

Through the Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel program, we’re ensuring first responders from Renfrew County Emergency Health Services and Town of Petawawa Fire Services have access to tailored mental health supports so they can continue to protect our communities with strength and resilience.

Learn more: https://www.ontario.ca/page/mental-health-resources-first-responders-and-public-safety-personnel

11/20/2025

We’re proud to share that several County of Renfrew Paramedic teams are actively involved in the national Paramedics and Social Prescribing program.

This initiative is strengthening how paramedics connect patients with social and community supports that improve health, independence, and overall well-being.

This week, representatives from our service are in Toronto meeting in person with teams from across Canada to collaborate, learn, and continue advancing this important work.

Thank you to Healthcare Excellence Canada for championing this effort and supporting paramedic-led innovation.

We’re thrilled to share that 36 teams across Canada have joined Paramedics and Social Prescribing.

The program helps paramedic teams implement social prescribing to connect people with non-medical social and community supports that improve health and well-being. These teams are being supported with seed funding, expert coaching, tools & resources and peer networking.

Find out more: https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/en/care-forward/expanding-access-to-care-and-easing-pressure-on-emergency-departments/paramedics-and-social-prescribing/paramedics-and-social-prescribing-teams/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=careforward&utm_topic=teamannouncement&utm_language=en

11/20/2025

Hello Fans. Do you know someone who serves as a first responder, or are you a first responder yourself? We would like to extend our appreciation by offering complimentary admission to the Wolves game on Saturday…. Please help us get the word out!

11/19/2025

Today at 12:55 PM EST

You may receive a test emergency alert on your phone today. If you receive the test alert, please do not call 911. This service is a life-saving tool for emergencies only, not for complaints about the Alert Ready system.
Find out when and what to do when you receive the emergency alert test. https://www.alertready.ca/testing-schedule/

11/18/2025