EMS Exemplary Service Medal

The Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal recognizes professionals in the provision of prehospital EMS who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner. A new Manitoba website at www.esmmb.ca explains the history and purpose of the medal and outlines the process that must be followed to nominate someone for recognition in this category.

The EMS Exemplary Service Medal is a member of the Governor General's Medals of Honours family. While there is a component of the award that recognizes long service (nominees must have 20 years experience in EMS), the real purpose of this very prestigious Medal is to pay tribute to those who have displayed exemplary performance during their career. As a profession we should be encouraged by the fact that the Manitoba Awards Committee is striving to uphold the dignity of this award through its review process. The provincial committee reviews each nomination to ensure the behaviour being recognized as exemplary is exactly that...not simply 20 years of doing what's expected, but rather behaviour and accomplishments that we as professionals can be proud of and strive to emulate.

Unfortunately the evidence suggests that other professions treat this Medal as one that everyone in their line of work expects after 20 years of "employment". I hope we in EMS continue to view this Medal in the way it which it was intended...as recognition of truly exemplary service.