Former EMS chief was ‘a people person’ and industry pioneer
Brent Browett died April 8 at age 64
Former Hamilton emergency medical services (EMS) chief Brent Browett is being remembered as “a bright individual” and a “people person.”
Browett was senior operations manager, deputy and chief of the city’s paramedic service between 2000 and 2013.
He was part of the team that helped form the department after Hamilton-Wentworth region took over ambulance services from private operators in August 2000. Before that, he had been clinical coordinator for the paramedic base hospital program run by Hamilton Health Sciences.
During his time as chief, he had to cope with ambulance shortages and congestion in ERs, but he got the service involved in many pilot programs to try to save time and save lives. This included programs to get defibrillators in schools and malls, and working with police on helping people who had repeated interactions with the services due to mental health and substance abuse issues.
Browett, who liked to bike, run and climb the escarpment stairs to keep fit, died April 8 at age 64. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2021 and wrote about his experiences on his Facebook page.
“He was a bright individual,” said Michael Sanderson, who succeeded Browett in 2013 as chief of paramedic services when he became director of community health planning and integration.
“He was very innovative,” continued Sanderson, also president of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs. “He did a lot for the industry. He was always very outgoing. He was a people person. He liked people. His mind was always going. How can I help? He was always an innovator.”
Ward 6 Coun. Tom Jackson recalled Browett did a lot of research before he presented a report to council on an issue or new program.
“He was a sponge for research,” said Jackson. “I always found him extremely intelligent. I always found him personable. He was in my office often. I learned a lot from him.”
When Browett got his new job, Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, said he had a “really good knowledge of the health-care system (and) of the community. We’re really looking forward to having his energy and innovation in public health.” Browett worked for the city until the end of 2015 and then went to work as director of the tissue program at Trillium Gift of Life Network, an agency of Ontario Health.
Colleagues on social media called Browett dedicated, professional, funny and smart. Browett also developed emergency service plans for the 2003 World Road Cycling Championships in Hamilton and the 2015 Pan Am Games events in the city.
Former fire and EMS chief Jim Kay said Browett loved to serve his fellow citizens.
“Brent helped build Hamilton EMS into what it is today,” he said. “He was a true pioneer.”
Browett was born Sept. 3, 1959, to Lloyd and Lois Browett. His father worked for the CNR and had served as a RCAF mechanic during the war. He went to Sherwood Secondary School, Southmount Secondary School and Conestoga College in Kitchener for the emergency care attendant/EMT ambulance program in 1978-79. His first job was with Superior Ambulance in Hamilton in 1979.
In 1984-85, he took the advanced care life support paramedic program at the Toronto Institute of Medical Technology (now the Michener Institute).
He earned a masters in leadership and training from the Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C., (200206) and a bachelor of health sciences from Charles Sturt University in Australia (1999-2002). He did the degrees online.
He later took a business administration course at York University and a human resources management course at Mohawk College.
Browett received the EMS Exemplary Service Medal in 2003 from Rideau Hall. It was upgraded with the addition of a bar in 2009. The bar represented 30 years of service.
Browett is survived by his wife Angela, children Brigette, Brock, Taylor and Trent, and his siblings Bill, Lisa, Lori, and Lynne. He is also survived by his first wife, Julie.