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Volunteers step up to provide first aid service in Powell River

New society forms in wake of St. John Ambulance closure
Powell River Community First Aid Team Society
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE: [From left] Powell River Community First Aid Team Society members Ian Boyd, Larry Gemmill and Heather Farrell-Sketchley provided volunteer first aid services on Canada Day at Willingdon Beach. Contributed photo

When St. John Ambulance closed its local brigade and branch on February 1 this year, it left many Powell River residents dismayed. The group had been part of the community for 107 years, arriving with the founding of the mill site and construction of the Townsite settlement in 1911.

The closure left a need for the volunteer first aid response services St. John had provided in the community at numerous public events for decades.

“It was discouraging,” said former St. John division officer Larry Gemmill. “We were the smallest brigade in the province and we weren’t making any money for St. John, but our attitude was the brigade part of it wasn’t supposed to be making money. We were providing a service.”

Not long after the closure, a core group of former St. John Ambulance brigade members got together, including Bill Korstrom, Larry Gemmill, Heather Farrell-Sketchley, Ian Boyd, Yvonne Boyd, Shannon Markham and Linda Wegner, and with the help of Select Safety Services president Gary Amundsen, Powell River Community First Aid Team Society was formed. Amundsen heard of the brigade’s closure and reached out to help, offering resources to get them back in rotation and supporting local events.

“When St. John pulled out, they took everything we’d accumulated over the years so we’re starting from scratch,” said Gemmill. “We couldn’t have done it without Gary. He’s been our godfather. He’s lent us one of his ambulances and his equipment until such time as we can start raising funds to get our own equipment.”

For Amundsen, it just made sense to help the group.

“I thought, ‘you know what, I’ve got all the equipment, here’s a set of keys for the ambulance, let’s get you back into rotation covering things like Kathaumixw, PRISMA and Canada Day; all the events these fine folks have covered for many, many years,’” he said.

The group became a non-profit society and have provided services at 18 events this year compared with the 25 attended by St. John in the region in 2017.

“We haven’t been able to cover all the events we usually do because we’re down to six people; we’re hoping by next year to be able to do the full gamut of events,” said Gemmill. “That’s due to the dedication of the people who stayed with the brigade. We lost a number of people who were unhappy about the way things transpired.”

The society is currently in the process of raising funds to buy an ambulance and equipment, as well as recruiting new members. Volunteers in all capacities are welcomed, from first aid providers to administrative help, especially younger people.

“We have to get youth involved; hopefully they’ll carry it on because we can’t go forever,” said Amundsen. “This is absolutely, positively all about community; that’s what this is.”