FAQ
How do I become a paramedic?
Visit the Ontario Paramedic Association page or the Ontario Colleges page.
What area does Rainy River District Paramedic Services operate in?
The District of Rainy River. This includes ten (10) municipalities and a large Townships without Municipal Organization (TWOMO) area.
How many ambulances are there?
Our fleet consists of nine (9) ambulances, three (3) emergency response vehicles, and three (3) emergency support unit trailers.
How many stations are there?
We have four (4) stations: one in each of the following communities, Rainy River, Emo, Fort Frances and Atikokan.
Do paramedics use “lights and sirens” on every emergency call?
Paramedics respond “lights and sirens” on emergent calls.
Why do firefighters and police officers respond to some medical calls?
Police and fire services respond to time-sensitive medical calls to provide immediate assistance and maintain public safety.
What are the staffing levels for on-duty paramedics?
There is one ambulance 24/7 at each of the stations across the district and an additional ambulance in Fort Frances, Monday to Friday 0700 to 1530 hours except statutory holidays.
How much are paramedics paid?
Paramedics in our service earn approximately $39.72-$42.19 per hour. Full time paramedics (2080 hours) earn approximately $87,750 per year.
Who dispatches paramedics?
Paramedics are dispatched by the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) located in Kenora, Ontario. CACC is operated by the province of Ontario. For more information on the Kenora CACC visit https://kenoracacc.ca/.
Who funds Paramedic Services?
In Ontario, the provision of Paramedic Services is a municipal responsibility. Under an agreement with the Province, municipalities operate Paramedic Services while paying 50% of the costs. The municipality(s) pay the other 50%.
In the Rainy River District, the Province pays 100% of the costs for the First Nations and Townships Without Municipal Organization (TWOMO). The remaining costs are than shared on a 50%, 50% basis between the province and the 10 municipalities within the district on a cost apportionment based on a formula that recognizes weighted assessment.
Are the paramedics unionized?
RRDPS paramedics are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4807. For more information please visit: https://4807.cupe.ca/
Who operates the air ambulance / helicopter in northern Ontario?
In Ontario, there is a provincial air ambulance service – Ornge. For more information, please visit: www.ornge.ca