The Province of Ontario presented Ontario Medals for Paramedic Bravery to four members of the Emergency Services team of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Yan Bellefeuille, Jean-François Fillion, Stéphane Huppé, and Christian Larochelle.
The ceremony took place on May 27, closing out Paramedic Services Week. They paid tribute to paramedics who have demonstrated courage, risking their lives to save others. The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, presented the medals.
“Our Paramedics respond to a wide range of medical emergencies. Every day, they act with composure and altruism. They work closely together to provide the best care as quickly as possible. We are very proud of our team’s accomplishments,” stated Marc-André Périard, Director of the UCPR’s Emergency Services.
One of the emergencies happened on May 11, 2023, when Alain Bellefeuille opened fire on police in the village of Bourget in Clarence-Rockland, resulting in the death of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Sergeant Eric Mueller. The four paramedics responded and arrived on scene to see an injured police officer with his service revolver in his hands and a second OPP officer inside the house unconscious.
While facing dangerous conditions the paramedics provided life-saving care to both injured officers, removed them from an unsafe situation and transported them to a trauma centre as soon as possible.
“Congratulations to our four Paramedics. The medal they received is a testament to their courage and heroism. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell can count on a team of seasoned Paramedics who are dedicated to the well-being of our community. Our warmest thanks to them,” added Normand Riopel, Interim Warden of the UCPR.
