The British Columbia Ambulance Service

"In The Line of Duty" pin.

HISTORY

In the late 1980's paramedics Bob Norman, Mike Binns, Tim Jones, and Glen Braithwaite could foresee the need for some form of ceremonial troop to represent the British Columbia Ambulance Service at official functions. In the beginning their vision was not widely supported by the membership, or management. The first attempt failed from lack of interest.

In the early 1990's three seperate events happened to bring the attention to B.C.A.S.'s need for a ceremonial troop. In January 1993, Paramedic Carol Shlamp was killed when her ambulance collided into a rock face outside of Hope, B.C. After the memorial for Carol, many members commented on how unprepared we were for a line of duty death. In January of 1995 four Seattle firefighters died in a warehouse fire. A week later, January 11, 1995 the B.C.A.S. medevac flight of Papa Uniform November "PUN" crashed into the ocean near Masset, killing the flight crew, physician, and Paramedics Wendy Thompson and Andy Goedicke.

The line of duty deaths of nine emergency personnel in such a short time brought this to light internationally. Our members attended the service in Seattle for the firefighters and many of the personnel from the other services indicated they would attend the service for our medevac crew. It was obvious that the service for PUN would draw international attention, and we would have to put on a positive and professional display. Whether we wanted to or not, we would be representing the Province of British Columbia, the British Columbia Ambulance Service and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 873 for all to see.

This time Paramedics Bob Norman, Mike Binns, and Ian Hames took it upon themselves, and in less than a week mobilized, organized and trained 50 members. They trained in protocol, professionalism, deportment, and drill. The Guard of Honour was born.

On May 17th, 2006 the BCAS Honour Guard was again called to duty for two of our own. Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier, who were taken from us while responding to a call on an old mine site in Kimberly, BC. This time the guard was brought in for 2 funerals and a memorial service. The guard was assigned several duties for 10 days, they included errands for the BCAS management team, ceremony drills for the funerals and memorial, and emotional and peer support for the local Kimberly crew. The guard went above and beyond, and again displayed the need for such a troop within the BC Ambulance Service.

Home Uniform Functions Members BCAS LODD EMS Links

Tony Sunderland, Carol Schlamp, Andre Goedicke, Wendy Thompson, Kim Weitzel, Shawn Currier

 honourguard@telus.net