Chief of Moose Jaw and District EMS receives prestigious Governor General award
Chief of Moose Jaw and District EMS, Kyle Sereda has received a distinguished award for 20 years of service in the profession. He received the Governor General EMS Exemplary award, presented by Lieutenant Governor W. Thomas Molloy at the end of June. Sereda began his career in 1997, following in his twin brother Kim’s footsteps who was an Emergency Medical Technician. Kim passed away and Sereda decided to give EMS a try. He has not looked back since and 21 years later, he is being recognized for his exemplary work in the field.
He says it was an honor to receive this prestigious award. “It is an honor and very humbling to have received this nomination and award that is largely recognized by my peer professionals. While not simply a long service medal, it is more so an award for exemplary service and contributions in the EMS profession. In my 21st year of paramedic service, it truly is an honor to receive.” Sereda says being a paramedic is a passion and the job has been a satisfying experience despite the challenges that comes with the industry. “Like many others who have received the award before me, it never has felt like work; being a paramedic is a passion and commitment to community public service. While it is a difficult job at times, with challenging experiences and periods of tragedy, it is an incredibly satisfying job to know you have helped someone in need. I often share with those individuals who seek out interest in the paramedic profession to remember there is far more good in what we do than the bad we experience.”
He credits his family and colleagues, he says, who have shown him support throughout the years. “The opportunity to succeed in this profession and receive an award of this nature cannot be done alone. With the strong family supports I have been fortunate to experience and incredible peer professionals that I have had the privilege to work alongside have all contributed to where I started as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to and Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) to where I am today as the Chief of Moose Jaw and District EMS.”
Sereda believes in leadership by example and strives to be “better today than he was yesterday.” He continues to demonstrate this both professionally and personally. He has done this by increasing his knowledge as well as his responsibilities as a practitioner, supervisor, instructor and director of operation as Chief of Moose Jaw EMS.
He has also held the role of President of Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association (SEMSA). Adding to his list of advancing EMS, Sereda has been or is a current member of other organizations including the Regulatory body for Paramedics in Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics (currently as the Vice President) and the Paramedic Association of Canada just to name a few.
Throughout his diverse roles his core values of commitment, dependability, humility, and service to others, remains as strong today as they did in the beginning.
The Governor General’s EMS Exemplary Service Medal is Canada’s highest honour for paramedics. The Medal and subsequent bars recognize 20, 30, and 40 years of service in responding to pre-hospital emergencies in Canada.