These "Every Child Matters" epaulette covers will be on Parkland Ambulance's uniforms until October 1. (Parkland Ambulance/Twitter)

By Rob Mahon

Parkland Ambulance Patches

Parkland Ambulance introduces epaulette covers as small step on road to reconciliation

Sep 27, 2022 | 12:00 PM

From yesterday until October 1, you might notice a new addition to the Parkland Ambulance uniforms. It’s the paramedics’ own small step forward on what they describe as a path of reconciliation.

This year, and every year going forward, Parkland Ambulance will have orange epaulette covers on the shoulders of their uniform with Every Child Matters written on them. They’re wearing them in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Our way of supporting, in the week leading up to this Friday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” Director of Public Affairs Lyle Karasiuk said. “Our way as an agency of supporting our Indigenous peoples and recognize the importance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.”

Parkland Ambulance not only operates in Prince Albert, where Statistics Canada says about 42 per cent of the population identifies as Indigenous, but in areas around the city as well including several Indigenous communities. With that in mind, Karasiuk felt this was an important way to connect with the people they serve.

“It’s absolutely vital for us as an agency,” Karasiuk said. “Anyone who knows the Prince Albert area knows that we have a number of First Nations communities in and around our area, whether they be on Sturgeon Lake, Montreal Lake, Muskoday, just to name a few.”

Local MP reacts

'The chaos was real': MP Gary Vidal on Freeland's resignation

10h ago

Drug bust

Meth, phone and charger seized at Sask. Pen

13h ago

Riderville

First Impressions Not Always the Most Accurate

18h ago

Karasiuk pointed out the added weight to the day this year as many members of Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan are still grieving after the mass-stabbing on James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon. This was driven home at a conference for Saskatchewan paramedic chiefs just last week, he said.

“We heard from Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand who himself directly lost two family members as a result of that horrific tragedy on James Smith,” Karasiuk said. “Chief Arcand spoke to us not only from his own heart and the tragedy that he and his family are going through along with all of the community that’s grieving. He made a poignant example to help us as paramedic chiefs and leaders to work with our Indigenous peoples and start those dialogues if those dialogues are not already started to understand what needs to be done for their healthcare.”

Karasiuk added Parkland Ambulance has a number of Indigenous and Métis people working on their staff as both paramedics and in their communications department. He also said listening to those employees helped them learn how to play a part in National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

—

rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP