Politics Mar the Edmonton Memorial Service

Diane Findlay and I traveled to Edmonton last week to attend the line of duty death memorial service for Alberta paramedic Michael Jolin. Jolin, 31 years old, was killed March 11th while at work, and leaves behind his wife and two young children. In his capacity as an EMT with HSE Integrated Ltd, which is a national safety services company, Michael was responsible for medical standby and treatment at an oilfield site near Fox Creek, Alberta.

Although particulars surrounding Jolin's death are still under investigation by Alberta Workplace Health and Safety, it has been confirmed that he was killed after being struck by a vehicle working in the area. According to early reports, he had stepped out of his mobile treatment center to assist a driver that that was backing a truck into the area when he was hit. Jolin was in uniform and on duty at the time of the incident.

I don't think it's any secret that the events surrounding Michael's accident called into question whether or not it should be considered a line of duty death. But the bottom line is...he was in uniform, on duty and at work when he died. While the circumstances that led to his death may not seem quite as "glamorous" as dying while rushing Code 4 to the scene of a serious medical or trauma incident, it still none the less equates to a paramedic dying in the line of duty...plain and simple. The Paramedic Association of Canada considered in a LODD; so too did the Benevolent Society, the Alberta College of Paramedics and the Paramedic Association of Manitoba.

So I have to admit that I was surprised by the small number of paramedics in attendance at the service in Edmonton on Saturday. Less than 100 uniformed emergency services personnel marched the kilometer or so in the memorial precession for Michael. There were EMS representatives from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. At least 20 uniformed EMT students from NAIT marched with us, and the Honor Guard included representation from BC and Alberta. But all in all, knowing that Alberta has about 7500 licensed EMS practitioners, I thought attendance was poor to say the least.

I questioned memorial service organizers about the attendance, thinking perhaps a lack of communication or, ironically, the number of line of duty deaths over the past twelve months might have affected the numbers. I was shocked by what I heard! According to those I spoke with, many EMS Chiefs did not think this incident warranted consideration as a line of duty death, and as such did not support staff participation in the service. Apparently others within our ranks question the validity of considering industrial work such as Michael had undertaken to be "paramedic duty". A strange position to take, I think, based on the varying roles and responsibilities our profession has sought over the past decade or so. Internal politics very clearly at play.

I appreciate, and in fact invite debate within our ranks...no matter what the issue. But there's a time and a place for those who disagree to make their arguments heard...and the memorial service for a fallen colleague is not an appropriate time or place. If, as a profession we can't come together at times like this...?