Ontario Honours Five Paramedics with Medal for Bravery

Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery recognizes extraordinary acts of courage

TORONTO — The Ontario government is recognizing five paramedics from across the province with the Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery, honouring acts of exceptional courage and selflessness carried out in the line of duty and while off-duty.

The medals were presented Monday at a ceremony at the Royal Ontario Museum by Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont and Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones.

According to the province, this year’s recipients were recognized for a range of life-saving actions, including:

• Rescuing a drowning individual from deep water while off-duty
• Saving victims from an aggressive dog attack without protective equipment
• Preventing a potentially armed individual from fleeing an accident scene until police arrived
• Rescuing a resident from a burning building

“Every day, Ontario’s heroic paramedics risk their lives in the service of their communities,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The courage displayed by this year’s recipients represents the very best of Ontario.”

Recognizing frontline courage

The Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery recognizes individual acts of outstanding bravery performed by members of Ontario’s paramedic services.

Nominations for the honour must be submitted through a paramedic service and endorsed by a paramedic chief.

Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont said the award reflects the extraordinary commitment paramedics demonstrate while protecting communities across Ontario.

“These acts of courage speak not only to their character, but to the difference they make in communities across Ontario,” Dumont said.

Every day, Ontario’s paramedics risk their lives in the service of others – representing the very best of our province.

Last night, I was honoured to present five paramedics with the Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery.🎖️

Read their heroic stories: https://t.co/BmP6g7X688 pic.twitter.com/LS0ERQ2jtu

— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) May 26, 2026

Ontario’s paramedic workforce

Ontario currently employs more than 12,000 paramedics, representing the largest paramedic workforce in Canada.

The province says paramedics regularly operate in high-pressure and unpredictable situations, providing emergency medical care in communities large and small across Ontario.

Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs representative Chief Greg Sage congratulated this year’s recipients and acknowledged the risks paramedics routinely face.

“The paramedics being recognized this year went above and beyond by risking their lives to save others,” Sage said.

Frontline recognition across Ontario

The government noted that while the award honours exceptional acts of bravery, all Ontario paramedics play a critical role in protecting public health and community safety.

The recognition ceremony also comes as Ontario continues investing in healthcare and emergency response services through its broader “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care” strategy.

Officials say Ontario’s paramedics remain a vital part of the province’s emergency healthcare system, responding to medical emergencies, disasters, accidents and public safety incidents every day.

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