The Paramedic Long Service Award
In 2008, the Province of Nova Scotia passed legislation creating an award for long service for Paramedics and celebrating their years of service to Nova Scotians. The Paramedic Long Service Award is based on years of service to Nova Scotia by paramedics and others who provide emergency health services. The award is based on five-year increments of service of 20 years and more. This award is from the Province of Nova Scotia and the Department of Health. The Premier and the Minister of Health want to acknowledge long years of service in the EHS system.
Other organizations such as some of the Fire Services and the Police Services have similar programs.
The first award ceremony was held on May 20, 2010 at the World Trade and Convention Center in Halifax during Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week. There were 115 individuals eligible for the award; 86 were presented at the ceremony and further ceremonies were held across the province for the remaining Paramedics. Future ceremonies will be held each May during EMS week.
The award is in the shape of the Star of Life, which is internationally recognized as the symbol for paramedic service. It also has the Nova Scotia Coat of Arms and the EHS logo. The medal is worn on the Paramedic dress uniform.
Who is the award for?
Registered Paramedics who are currently employed in the EHS system and have provided service to Nova Scotia in the former and current ambulance system are eligible based on years of service will be given this award. This can be broken time, however only years of service in the Nova Scotia system are eligible.
The minimum number of years, broken or unbroken, to achieve this award is 20 years of service, as of January 1 of each calendar year. Only those paramedics working in the system, or who have retired since the last ceremony year are eligible.
| Year | 20 Years Medal |
25 Years Service Bar |
30 Years Service Bar |
35 Years Service Bar Watch |
40 Years Service Bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Additional service bars will be awarded at 5 year increments beyond 20 years. Recipients will be given a service bar and invited back to the ceremony at 25, 30, 35 and 40 years. At 35 years of service, recipients will be given a watch commemorating your long standing contribution.
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Years of eligibility for the award
The following years are eligible for calculation in the award
- Full time and/or part time years are counted equally, regardless of the number of hours per week.
- Registered Paramedics who work as front-line paramedics, communications officers, supervisors/managers, educators and others in a leadership role in the EHS system are eligible.
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Years not eligible for the award
The following years are not eligible for calculation in the award:
- Individuals who have retired or otherwise left the EHS system since the last ceremony year.
- Years working in an EHS system outside of Nova Scotia.
- Years working as a Paramedic outside of the EHS system, e.g. in an in-hospital role or other employer. Employers outside of the EHS system have the discretion of recognizing long service; this award is for service in the EHS and former ambulance system.
- Fire Department based Medical First Responders. EHS recognizes the valuable contribution that MFR's provide to the system, however, the Fire Service has advised that they have their own internal long service award system however, non-Fire Department based Medical First Responders who respond as part of the formal EHS MFR system are eligible.
The Process
In January of each year, the Long Service Award committee will ask the paramedic employer(s) for a list of those paramedics who are eligible based on years of service. The Department of Health maintains a database of former recipients and verifies first-time recipients as well as those eligible for longer service bars.
Where the EHS system made a significant change in the 1990's to an integrated system, there will be a number of occurrences where previous years of service from the old system may not be on file. Recipients are asked to provide additional information to support their additional years of service. The committee for this program has a number of people who have been in the system for a long time, we will validate years of service with colleagues paper records of your years of service are not available.
As the committee has built the database from a system with a number of former operations, it is understood that records are incomplete. If paramedics are aware of a current serving paramedic who should be eligible and has not been contacted by the committee by early March of each year, the committee asks that you let us know as soon as possible. The Committee would like to make everything right for everyone.
A letter will be sent to recipients in February of each year notifying them that they are eligible for an award in the upcoming ceremony. At that time, recipients will be advised of their eligible years of service, the details of the ceremony, and requested to confirm their attendance and the number of guests that they would like to bring along.
If candidates believe that they are eligible for years not counted, they can send a letter to the committee asking for a review.
The Ceremony
At the ceremony, recipients will receive a long service medal, or if you already have a medal from previous years of service, you will receive a bar indicating additional years of service. You also will receive a framed certificate of your accomplishment.
The ceremony will often have some media exposure, and the participation of senior government officials. Each recipient will be called to the front of the room individually, and awarded their medal/bar and certificate. A small reception will be held after the ceremony to provide an opportunity for recipients to share their accomplishment with peers and family. The ceremony will have limited seats for family and guests. The committee will do their best to accommodate everyone, but based on the number of recipients and the venue size, recipients are generally limited to two guests
For those recipients who cannot make the award ceremony, the Committee will work with the EHS system officials to find a time and where their contribution can be recognized. These recipients will receive the medal/bar and certificate at a later date.
The Nova Scotia Paramedic Long Service award and the Federal Exemplary Service award
The main difference is that this award is for years of service, and not based on individual performance, outstanding contributions and merit. The other difference is that this award will be given automatically based on years of service. The federal award is based on exemplary performance, and requires a nomination process.
For more information regarding the Paramedic Long Service Award please contact the Director of Ground Ambulance at (902) 424-3916