By Alex Soloducha

Parkland Ambulance helps out during persisting Ukrainian conflict

Aug 28, 2015 | 6:34 AM

The conflict in the Ukraine may seem far off to some but Parkland Ambulance is doing their part to help out.

Lyle Karasiuk, director of public affairs for Parkland Ambulance Care Ltd., said the organization was happy to donate an ambulance to help medical crews recusing those injured in the Ukrainian conflict.

Four ambulances in total: one from Parkland Ambulance, one from MD Ambulance in Saskatoon, another from Duck Mountain EMS in Kamsack and the last from Associated Ambulance in Edmonton, were all fixed up and sent overseas.

The emergency vehicles were prepped by Crestline Coach in Saskatoon. Workers stripped all the decaling off the ambulances and removed everything unique to the service provider. Then, the vehicles were prepared for international use.

“There are some requirements to meet motor vehicle and safety regulations,” explained Karasiuk. “They’ve had lots of international contracts so they’re very well versed in making sure they meet the government requirement so they can pass through customs and all the regulatory processes that go into shipping a vehicle overseas.”

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The former CEO of MD Ambulance, Dave Dutchak, spearheaded the project. After a year of hard work and preparation, the ambulances have reached their destination.

“There has been a tremendous amount of time and effort put in by all the volunteer committee representatives over the past 18 months to make this dream a reality,” said Dave Dutchak, in a media statement.

With help from the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada, the Saskatchewan Ukraine Relations Advisory Committee, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and EuroMaidan Canada, they were able to fund the freight for the ambulances.

The emergency vehicles were shipped by railcar to Halifax, loaded into containers for shipment to the Ukraine on Aug. 10 and will be dispersed across the country to the areas where they’re most needed from the Red Star Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine.  

“They’re going to be able to move people from areas that they’ve got sick and injured (people) and they are going to be used by  civilian aid groups,” said Karasiuk, “So they will be supporting their needs, and I’m sure well received and put to good use.”

Karasiuk said while Parkland Ambulance does their best to support both the local and provincial community, they jumped at the chance to support something bigger when approached by Dutchak from Saskatoon.

“The timing was just perfect. We were in the process of decommissioning an ambulance,” said Karasiuk, who explained it would’ve gone unused, been used for another purpose or have been sold.

“It was the perfect way for us to support a much larger cause. We look at the news and we see these things happening and we think, ‘Gee, how can I make an impact on a bigger, global (scale)?’

Dutchak, Karasiuk and Trevor Dutchak, Parkland’s CEO are all from Ukrainian decent as well.

“We are so fortunate within our company to be able to give back to the community and support this important project,” said Trevor Dutchak, also in a statement. “It is exciting that as a Ukrainian Canadian I am able to help out.”

“We’re all bound to sort of feel some kinship, and it’s our own country back in the Ukraine, and we’re happy to support it,” said Karasiuk. “It was a great cause.”

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha