Jubilee Award recipients, left: Chris Warren, centre, and, right: Jennifer Larre, centre. They are with Saskatchewan's Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty, left, and Steven Skoworodko (President of Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan), right. (submitted photos/Ross Reaburn, Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan)

By Angela Brown

Exemplary Service Awards

NW Region EMS professionals honoured with Queen’s Jubilee Awards

Dec 7, 2022 | 3:42 PM

A number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals from the North West Region were among those recognized for their outstanding service at a ceremony at Government House in Regina Tuesday.

Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty presented Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals to Jennifer Larre of St. Walburg, and Chris Warren, of Meadow Lake. A total of 49 Jubilee awards were given to many recipients during the event.

Larre is the vice president on the board of directors with Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan, and an Intermediate Care Paramedic (ICP). She has committed 17 years to her work as a paramedic. Larre also owns and operates WestMed Paramedics in St. Walburg and Pierceland.

Originally from Warman, she said she was drawn to the EMS field since she enjoyed helping others, and found the work rewarding.

“I wanted to go into healthcare. I did a ride-along with MD Ambulance at the time; they are now Medavie Health Services West,” Larre said. “I felt like it was my calling, and it was something that I had to do.”

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She said she then applied to what’s now known as Saskatchewan Polytechnic and was accepted into the program.

“I knew as soon as I got into the back of an ambulance that that’s where I belonged,” Larre said.

Chris Warren, based in Meadow Lake, is a fulltime paramedic. He is also a part-time firefighter when he is not busy with his paramedic work.

Originally from Saskatoon, he is a full time Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) with Meadow Lake EMS. He will be celebrating his 19th year with Meadow Lake EMS this year.

Warren is also a captain with the Meadow Lake Fire Department and is a part-time firefighter.

He said he first decided to become a paramedic as a result of some prior experiences working in fire services, as well as from his work in ski patrol.

“I was a ski instructor for a while and then did ski patrol. I started doing advanced first aid that way, and thought I could make a career of that,” Warren said.

He said he enjoys the challenge, and the lifelong commitment to learning and education that’s part of EMS work.

Warren is also a board member on the education committee with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.

He is also involved in providing training.

“I do a lot of education for EMS. That has been my big contribution,” Warren said. “I do all the first responder training in the region, and manage the first responder program for the Meadow Lake area.”

He said receiving the jubilee award was particularly meaningful to him.

“It was a big honour to accept an award from the Paramedic Services Chiefs [of Saskatchewan], and from his honour Russ Mirasty. He had a career in public service and emergency services too, so it was very meaningful to accept an award from him,” Warren said.

Long service awards

As well, several emergency medical services professionals from the region were among those recognized with a Governor General Exemplary Service Medal for their long service. Tracey Lagasse and Jacki-Leigh Reid, both of Gravelbourg, received medals for 20 years of service, while Robert Degenstien, of Macklin, Jennifer Looshorn, of St. Walburg, and Gary Mousseau and Helene Ray, both of Gravelbourg, were honoured with awards for 30 years of service.

Lagasse is a full time high school teacher and casual primary care paramedic (PCP), and dedicates most of her school breaks to EMS support.

Reid has been an EMS member since 1993, and recently retired from her positions as PCP and EMS Co-ordinator of St. Joseph’s Hospital EMS.

Degenstien has served for the last six years as the EMS co-ordinator for Luseland EMS service. He started his career in EMS in 1986 as a casual on-call responder in Macklin.

Looshorn, of St. Wahlburg, who received a medal for over 30 years of service, worked both in EMS and at the St. Walburg long-term care facility after 45 years. She immigrated to Canada from England in 1975 as a registered nurse, specializing in midwifery. She then worked as an RN with Marshall’s Ambulance Care in St. Walburg. After completing her EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification in 1988 she worked mainly as an EMT/RN.

Mousseau has been involved in EMS in Gravelbourg for many years. He initially trained in EMS and continued his education as a registered nurse. He became the staff advocate for EMS at St. Joseph Hospital and has helped others to advocate for themselves.

Ray became involved in the field of EMS after working in La Ronge where she developed keen problem solving skills. She went on to pursue training as an EMT-A. She has spent many years in EMS in Gravelbourg.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

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