FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL XX, 2013
Jim McIsaac retiring after 39 years with area ambulance services
When Jim McIsaac began working as an ambulance attendant in 1974, he was part
of a private ambulance service with four full-time staff serving the Carleton Place and
Beckwith area.
In May, after 39 years in emergency health services, Mr. McIsaac will retire as Chief
of the Lanark County Ambulance Service, which has 42 full-time staff, about the
same number of part-time employees, and 12 vehicles serving all of Lanark County.
“What really stands out for me are the advancements that have been made in
paramedicine over the past 39 years,” says Mr. McIsaac. “When I started, we weren’t
even called paramedics, we were called ambulance drivers or ambulance
attendants.”
At the beginning of Mr. McIsaac’s career, ambulance attendants provided only basic
care and transport to medical facilities. “The biggest step, which took place in the
1980s, was permitting paramedics to perform cardiac defibrillation,” recalls Mr.
McIsaac. “Defibrillation saves lives.”
Mr. McIsaac, who was born and raised in Carleton Place, came by his attraction to a
career in emergency services naturally—his father was a member of the RCMP who
served as the Carleton Place police chief for 42 years.
“When I was in high school, I was a member of St. John Ambulance and did first aid
at public events,” Mr. McIsaac says. “When the local ambulance operator was looking
for staff, he was looking for people already trained, so I got the job.”
At that time, the Carleton Place ambulance service was operated by local funeral
director Alan R. Barker. Mr. McIsaac received his initial training at Canadian Forces
Base Borden, and subsequent training at Algonquin College.
In 1978-79 Mr. McIsaac became a supervisor for Mr. Barker’s ambulance service,
which had expanded to also cover the Richmond area. In 1991, Mr. McIsaac bought
the ambulance service from Mr. Barker.
Major changes to area ambulance services took place in 1997, when the provincial
government decided to download responsibility for land ambulance services to
municipalities. At the time, Lanark County had four ambulance services, operated by
the Almonte General Hospital for Almonte, the Perth/Smiths Falls Hospital for Perth,
the Ministry of Health for Smiths Falls and Mr. McIsaac for Carleton Place.
In 1999, the Almonte General Hospital submitted a proposal to Lanark County
Council to operate the County’s ambulance services. The proposal, which
consolidated the four existing licences into one, was accepted in November 1999.
The Lanark County Ambulance Service (LCAS) was launched September 1, 2000,
with Mr. McIsaac hired as Chief.
Almonte General Hospital continues to operate the LCAS, in partnership with Lanark
County. Since 2000, ambulance coverage in Lanark County has expanded and new
bases have been constructed in Almonte and in Lanark.
“Jim McIsaac has had a long and distinguished career in emergency medical
services,” says Almonte General Hospital President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider. “He
has been part of many changes and advancements in ambulance service in our
community. We are grateful for his dedication and service, and we wish him a happy
and healthy retirement.”
Mr. McIsaac’s retirement takes effect May 24, 2013. The new Chief will be Ed
McPherson, who is currently LCAS Deputy Chief/Manager of Quality Assurance and
Training.
During his career, Mr. McIsaac has been active in the Ontario Ambulance Operators
Association, now known as the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC), and
the OAPC Eastern Chiefs group. Both the provincial and Eastern Ontario bodies have
invited him to remain involved in the organizations after he retires.
In 2012, the Governor General presented Mr. McIsaac with the 30-year bar for his
Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal. The medal recognizes those
professionals who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner,
characterized by the highest standards of good conduct, industry and efficiency.
“I will miss the people, not just the LCAS staff but the friends I’ve met across the
province and throughout Eastern Ontario,” Mr. McIsaac says.
As for retirement plans, Mr. McIsaac and his wife are motorhome enthusiasts who
will now likely spend their winters in Florida. The couple has two adult sons.
“Fortunately I have lots of interest,” says Mr. McIsaac. “My wife also runs a seasonal
campground in Ladysmith, Quebec, so I guess I’m her new handyman there.”
Asked what else he might miss about his job, besides the people, Mr. McIsaac says
he is grateful to have had a long and enjoyable career in Carleton Place and Lanark
County.
“But I’m going to miss the lights and sirens,” he jokes. “That’s what all paramedics
say.”
-30CUTLINE:
Jim McIsaac is retiring after 39 years in area ambulance services.
For information, contact:
Mary Wilson Trider
President and CEO
Almonte General Hospital
613-256-2514 ext. 2220