Winnipeg, MB – At a graduation ceremony this morning, Mayor Brian Bowman, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Chief John Lane, and community partners celebrated the success of the City’s 11 new Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP).
The graduates completed a challenging three-year program, offered by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) consisting of classroom learning, as well as hospital and field training to achieve the highest level of paramedic education available in Manitoba.
“On behalf of all Winnipeg residents, I congratulate our newest Advanced Care Paramedics graduating this year,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “You have all worked hard to get to this next step in your career and you should be very proud of this impressive accomplishment. We thank you for being there for Winnipeggers, providing important medical care, and for your ongoing commitment to delivering compassionate support to Winnipeggers in their times of need.”
“Advanced Care Paramedics make a significant difference in the lives of many Winnipeggers who require emergency care,” said WFPS Chief John Lane. “As emergency medicine evolves, it is becoming increasingly complex. Our Advanced Care Paramedics embrace these changes and provide the highest level of emergency medicine in any scenario. I congratulate the graduates for this accomplishment and hard work in successfully completing the ACP program.”
As part of their commitment to the community, the ACP class members came together to make a donation to the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF). Their donation will help purchase the MMF building’s first-ever Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Thomas Paurnteau, MMF’s Youth Training Coordinator, will be in attendance to receive the donation.
About the Advanced Care Paramedic program
Students selected into the ACP program commit themselves to three years of intensive study while continuing to work as WFPS Paramedics. The ACP program provides education for these students to broaden their understanding of disease and traumatic injury and the management thereof using specialized skills and additional responsibilities.
To practice as an ACP, graduates of the program must obtain licensure through challenging a national registry exam. WFPS is committed to a high standard of patient care. These graduates will bring the complement of front line ACPs to approximately 150.
The WFPS ACP program is nationally accredited by Accreditation Canada. Accreditation Canada works with organizations to improve the quality of health and social services offered to the public as well as quality of education in paramedicine and other allied health programs.