Emergency Medical Dispatcher Natalie Silvera Accepts Honours

Posted on April 17, 2012, 11:25 am, by Kim and received No Comments ».

On April 10, 2012 at a special ceremony in the atrium of Toronto Police Headquarters, Toronto EMS emergency medical dispatcher Natalie Silvera was awarded the Toronto EMS Communicator of the Year award.

Natalie Silvera

Front to back, left to right: Natalie's husband, Anthony Royer, Natalie's daughter Sienna, Natalie, Natalie's daughter Scarlett Deputy Chief Gord McEachen, Natalie's sister Donnaleigh, Natalie's brother William, Natalie's Mother, Donalessa Birkett and Chief Paul Raftis.

The event was scheduled during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and included presentations to all three services. Toronto Police Services Communicator of the Year is Bruce Smith and Toronto Fire Services is Brian Gislason.

Natalie has worked for the City of Toronto since 1996 and for Toronto EMS since 2006. For the last six years she has worked in several positions at the Central Ambulance Communication Centre including, emergency call-taker, dispatcher and senior emergency medical dispatcher.

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Toronto Emergency Medical Services Employees win IODE Toronto Community Service Award

Posted on April 3, 2012, 10:59 am, by Kim and received No Comments ».

Recently retired Toronto EMS Employees, Dave Ralph and Jerry Crawford received the IODE Toronto Community Service Award at the annual meeting held on Wednesday, March 28 at the Spirale Banquet Centre on Don Mills Road.

Dave Ralph, Barbara Lewis, Jerry Crawford, Mary K. Anderson

Dave Ralph, retired commander Toronto EMS, Barbara Lewis, Citizenship Officer IODE Toronto, Jerry Crawford, retired superintendent Toronto EMS, Mary K. Anderson, President IODE Toronto Chapter.

IODE Toronto Citizenship Officer, Barbara Lewis, was instrumental in asking Toronto EMS to nominate members of the service for this award. She hosted the winners and their families at the recent dinner ceremony.

Barbara and her awards team agreed that both Toronto EMS veterans were deserving of recognition since they both have been involved in scouting for over 50 years! Dave when he joined the Wolf Cubs in Don Mills at age eight and Jerry when he joined the Cub Scouts in Lindsay in 1952!

During her remarks, the President of IODE Toronto Mary K. Anderson, explained the Community Service Award is given out annually to either a “police officer or a firefighter (and now to an emergency medical services paramedic or emergency medical dispatcher) who serves the community of Toronto over and above their day to day job.”

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Toronto EMS Safe City and Heart and Stroke Foundation teach Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to Scarborough Residents

Posted on March 27, 2012, 3:47 pm, by Kim and received No Comments ».

Even though March 12 was a beautiful day outside, Rosamma George, Manager, Community Development Warden Woods and over 75 Scarborough residents were hard at work inside the community centre, learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Reena Kudhail, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, welcomed the participants and told them, “this session will give you as a bystander the confidence to know how to use the tools to save a life.”

Toronto EMS Paramedic, Elizabeth Dodge assists a community resident in perfecting her CPR technique using a Resusci Anne mannequin.

Jyl Mcgunigal, Superintendent for Toronto EMS Safe City, told the class that “of the 45,000 cardiac arrests that take place in Canada each year, 85% of them occur in public places, usually in the presence of friends or loved ones.”

This training gave the class an excellent start to being able to perform CPR prior to paramedics arriving.  It was a hands-on session with each participant receiving their own instruction booklet and a mini “Resusci Anne” (a mannequin used to practice CPR) and a participation certificate upon completion of the course.

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300 years of service to Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS) honoured at special event

Posted on March 20, 2012, 3:24 pm, by Kim and received No Comments ».

Nine careers, totalling 300 years’ experience at Toronto EMS were honoured at a retirement party organized and hosted by Superintendent Tony Iagallo at the Montecassino Hotel and Event Venue in Downsview on Friday, March 9, 2012.

The nine special guests were Mike Bromley (Superintendent, Operations), Ted Burley (Scheduling Coordinator), Mark Castle (Superintendent, Operations), Bruce England (Superintendent, Emergency Planning), John Janson (Commander, Education and Development), Mike Medley (Superintendent, Operations), Dave Ralph (Commander, Community Safeguard Services), Jim Russell (Superintendent, Professional Standards) and Gord Webster (Superintendent, Operations).

The common theme to their remarks, made in front of over 150 well-wishers including their families, was that while the work had been rewarding and exciting it was the people at Toronto EMS they would miss the most.

Here is a summary of their remarks for those who couldn’t attend:

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Ian Wailes Interview

Posted on March 7, 2012, 11:49 am, by Kim and received No Comments ».

Beatrice Politi, the Global TV health reporter, called Toronto EMS in mid-February.  She was interested in understanding how Toronto EMS prepares for multi-patient accidents.  Sadly, there has been public attention on these types of incidents because of a tragic van and truck accident near Stratford and more recently, a VIA rail derailment with multiple patients.


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Student Visit to EMS HQ

Posted on March 1, 2012, 4:28 pm, by Kim and received No Comments ».

Stacey Parker was trying to find out if her son Matthew Thieme could meet with a Toronto EMS paramedic for a short interview for a school project. Matthew is fascinated with Paramedics and Ambulances and he was determined to do a presentation on his career choice. Matthew is 6.

Matthew Thieme and his school project on Toronto EMS paramedics.

Fortunately for Stacey she was transferred to the Toronto EMS planning department. Shamez Kassam and Caroline Mellor arranged not only an interview but a complete a visit to Toronto EMS Headquarters for her son.

Matthew toured an ambulance, spoke with paramedics, toured the Communication Centre and had a short visit with Deputy Chief Frank Hurlehey who answered all of his questions.

Matthew and his parents enjoyed the morning and Matthew shared the results of his visit with his class. He sent a picture of his display to Shamez to share with the staff at Toronto EMS.

Toronto Botanical Gardens AED Installation

Posted on March 1, 2012, 4:25 pm, by Kim and received No Comments ».

Howard Cappell loves to laugh. He loves stand-up comedy and is himself a trained comedian. Coming from a family that has always found a way to give back to the community, Howard created and hosts the annual Hearty-Har-Har comedy night to fundraise for a charity near and dear to his heart – the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Photo: r to l front: Sandra Page, AED Specialist, Resuscitation Programs, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Gayle Pollock, Commander, Toronto EMS Safe City Program, Cole Cappell, Back: Joel Cappell, Sylvia Cappell, Andrew Lotto, Manager, Resuscitation Programs, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Howard Cappell, Marla Cappell, Jim McKay, Supervisor City of Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Aldona Satterthwaite, Executive Director, Toronto Botanical Gardens, Allison Uher Regional Marketing Manager, MNP LLP, Connie Parente and Dino Vilardo, Site Officers, Toronto EMS Cardiac Safe City Program.

With the support of the individuals who attended the third annual event, as well as the title sponsor- chartered accounting and business consulting firm MNP LLP, four Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were purchased to be placed in the Toronto community. Three of the AEDS were placed in the Toronto Botanical Gardens, Edwards Gardens and Sunnybrook Park.

Working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Howard wanted to leave a lasting legacy with the funds raised at the annual stand-up comedy night, and decided that AEDs were a great way to leave an impact in the community. It was easy to select an AED as their choice and since Howie Cappell and his family grew up in North Toronto and had often enjoyed its many parks when they saw Toronto Botanical Gardens, Edwards Gardens and Sunnybrook Park were all candidates for an AED, it was an easy choice.
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John Lock Retirement

Posted on March 1, 2012, 4:13 pm, by Kim and received No Comments ».

On Thursday, January 19 at Deer Creek Golf and Banquet Centre in Ajax over 100 well-wishers gathered to celebrate Deputy Chief John Lock’s retirement.

Photo: left to right, Thomas Lock, Sue Lock, Andrew Lock, Retiring Deputy Chief John Lock

Deputy Chief Lock had a long and successful career of thirty-six years which began on February 9, 1976. He told the audience how he chose his career. “I was a 19-year-old looking for a good job with benefits and steady pay. Those days were good to our generation and jobs were plentiful.” He walked into a Midland Avenue Training and Recruitment Centre in Scarborough and his career at EMS began. 
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Peter Macintyre Retirement

Posted on March 1, 2012, 4:05 pm, by Kim and received No Comments ».

Over 50 guests gathered on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at former Commander Peter Macintyre’s retirement party. The celebration, held at the Officer’s Mess Landforce Central Area, Lieutenant Colonel Denison Armoury, brought together Peter’s colleagues from Toronto EMS and Toronto area hospitals as well as his family and friends to wish him well.

From left: Peter's wife Sandra, Brother John Macintyre, Sister-in-law Beth Sangster, Niece Laura. Peter Junior didn't arrive until after his hockey game!

Guests included Peter’s wife Sandra, his brother John, sister-in-law Beth Sangster, niece Laura and nephew Peter. It was a pleasure for all to meet his family in person at this special event. Many people know how much pride Peter takes in attending Laura’s swim meets and Peter’s hockey games and how important family time is to both Peter and Sandra.
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Jerry Crawford Retirement

Posted on March 1, 2012, 3:49 pm, by Kim and received 1 Comment ».

On Thursday, January 12, 2012, former Superintendent Jerry Crawford’s many friends and colleagues gathered in the Toronto EMS Headquarters Atrium to celebrate his retirement after an exemplary 44-year career.

Jerry Crawford (right) with Deputy Chiefs Cindy Nicholson and Frank Hurlehey.

He will be remembered by his colleagues as the “Father of the Geocode.”  His work as the geographer for Toronto EMS has left a long-term legacy that will be used by upcoming generations of EMS employees. The tools he created to map the City and make it easier for paramedics to find their way to an emergency has changed the way paramedicine and emergency medical dispatch is delivered.
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