Paramedics pedal from Sherbrooke to Ottawa
Around 170 paramedics set off from Sherbrooke on Friday on a bike ride of approximately 450km to remember Canadian colleagues who lost their lives in the line of duty. The goal of the event was also to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress and support paramedics who suffer in silence.
The cyclists were accompanied by an impressive array of emergency vehicles to ensure their safety. The Tour Paramédic Québec is also raising funds to erect a national memorial for paramedics who have lost their lives in the service of the population.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the cyclists of this 4th edition gathered at the Armoury in Sherbrooke (64 Rue Belvédère Sud, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 4B4) around 8:30 a.m. for an opening ceremony.
The tour ended on Monday afternoon at the Canadian War Museum along with the Ontario edition of the cycling event, taking place simultaneously.
"Exceptionally this year, our ceremonies and national theme are in honour of our military paramedic colleagues who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Among the 51 Canadian professionals who died, we include Quebeckers, including 2 civilian paramedics, 1 helicopter transport paramedic and 3 military paramedics," commented Francis Brisebois, spokesperson for the Tour Paramédic Québec, in a recent press release.
Both military and civilian professionals frequently put their lives and health at risk when responding to a situation.
"We are people who are passionate about our work, but we are sometimes affected by our dedication to helping people, especially by suffering from posttraumatic stress. This annual trek is a unifying event in the pre-hospital field in Quebec because it allows us to share with our colleagues from across the country on various topics, including recognition of the profession, depression and suicide prevention," added Mr. Brisebois.
The Tour paramédic Québec made a number of stops along the route including Magog, Granby, La Prairie, Montreal, Vaudreuil-dorion, Hawkesbury, Montebello and Gatineau.
Donations are still accepted in support of the cause on the national website of the Paramedic Tour:
http://www.paramedicmemorial.org .