Rainy River Ambulance Service moves to new home

Ken Johnston

Ambulance services in Rainy River had come a long ways from the days where the local funeral director used a hearse to attend to ambulance calls; back in the 1950s and 60s.
January 28-31st the local ambulance service moved from the town garage to its new location in the east end of Rainy River on Hwy. 11.
Ambulance Services Manager for the Fort Frances to Rainy River area, Grace Silander, said that as the way ambulance services were paid for changed so did the standards for staffing them.
“The old facility was fine for volunteers and a small full time staff,” said Silander. But now with six full time positions and plans to add another two, the old facility just didn’t cut it.
The province downloaded the costs for ambulance services to the communities they are serving and at the same time increased the standards for staffing. Volunteers began to dwindle away with only a few pursuing the education necessary to be a full time employee.
Plans to move to a new location began in March of 2001.
Later that year Rainy River became known as a 1 point service. That meant there was at least one full time paramedic on 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Now Rainy River is a 2 pt. service with two full time paramedics 24/7.
The new facility also meets provincial standards for an ambulance service, something the Rainy River base has never quite lived up to over its first 50 years of existence.
Silander, who says, “the new facility is a dream come true,” excitedly gave the Record a tour. The building has a proper locker room, a training room that can double as a conference room, separate shower and washroom facilities for male and female workers, plenty of storage, a common area equipped with a micro-convection oven, sink and fridge and furniture, office space for the coordinator, a huge ambulance port that is longer than the one in the town garage.
“Before we could not back the ambulance in and take the stretcher out if need be, now we can,” said Silander. The ambulance bay is also equipped with proper ventilation system that draws fresh air in directly from outside and blows stale air out. It also has a stainless steel sink and storage space.
Silander’s first impression of the new building was, “When I walked in I wondered if it would all fit.” To her pleasure they have found that they have plenty of room and she noted, “We have enough property to build a second ambulance bay on if need be.”
Silander did not have the costs for the new facility but did say they received 75% of the funding from an Ontario Heritage Grant. The rest was paid for by Riverside Health Care Facilities, who oversees the hospitals in Rainy River, Emo and Fort Frances.
Rainy River Ambulance Paramedic Ashley Stamler said, “This is 100% better than the other place. It’s cozy.”
Stamler’s remarks only are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the enthusiasm the staff has for the new facility. “They are all taking so much pride in it,” said Silander, noting morale seems to be at an all time high.
The rest of the staff working at the new facility includes, Cheryl Kallaste-mgr. of RR and Emo services, Stewart McNally, Corrie Voth, Sheila Beckerton, Roger Wilson and Karen Lamoureux. Others who have been sharing the full time hours not filled by the above include Chris Wielinga, Shae Christian, Bosko Stopa, Matt Jackson and Cheryl Morrison.
There will be a grand opening of the new facility in the spring at which time the public will be able to tour the facility.