Ontario’s first female paramedic recognized for years of service to residents in northern Canada

OSHAWA, ON. – Durham College alumna Patricia O’Connor has made it her life’s work to help people in Canada’s far north receive health care, a career of service and dedication that has led her to become one of six recipients of the 2008 Ontario Premier’s Award. O’Connor has been named a recipient in the Health Sciences category and is only the fourth Durham College alumni to receive the prestigious award.

A 1976 Nursing graduate, O’Connor went on to became Ontario’s first female paramedic and part of its first air ambulance helicopter team after completing flight paramedic training in 1978. A pioneer of aero-medical services, she began work in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NWT) as a chief flight nurse for St. John Ambulance in 1985 and during that time established an air ambulance program in the NWT. In 1992, she founded Medflight Ltd., a medical air evacuation service for the more than 30,000 residents of western NWT and Nunavut’s Kitikmeot region. She is currently Medflight’s president, chief financial officer and owner.

“To be recognized for this prominent award is an absolute honour for me,” said O’Connor. “The quality learning experiences I received at Durham College while training to become a nurse led me to the pathway that has resulted in a successful career in health care.”

For more than two decades, O’Connor has been flying to remote villages in Canada’s far north, stabilizing patients in preparation for flights to receive medical treatment in Yellowknife. She has presented lectures across Canada and is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Aero-Medical Transport, a national organization for the development and promotion of aero-medical services in Canada.

Her passion for helping others knows no limits. In 1989, while en route to Pelly Bay, Nunavut to pick up a medevac patient, O’Connor’s plane crashed. While waiting to be rescued, she performed her nursing duties under extreme duress and received a commendation for her actions. She has also received an award of merit from St. John Ambulance, Priory of Canada, for aero-medical work in the NWT and the 2008 Durham College Alumna of Distinction award.

Most notably, O’Connor received an appointment to become a member of the Order of Canada in December 2007 for her contributions to paramedic care in Canada’s northern territories. The Order of Canada is the highest national honour a civilian can receive and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. There are four levels of recognition – Companion, Officer, Member and Non-Canadian (Honorary).

“On behalf of Durham College, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Patricia for this incredible achievement,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “Patricia’s outstanding career success is a testament to the remarkable reputation Durham College has developed for excellence in post-secondary education. The leadership role she has assumed in the health-care industry is an inspiration to our students and graduates.”

The Ontario Premier’s Awards for College Graduates honour the important social and economic contributions made by college graduates. Presented by the premier at the Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario’s annual conference, the awards acknowledge six outstanding graduates, one each from the areas of Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate and Technology. The recipients are chosen from nominations submitted by Ontario’s 24 colleges. Award winners receive a medal designed by sculptor Dora de Pedery-Hunt and the graduating college receives a $5,000 bursary. This year’s class of award winners will be honoured February 23 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of 95.6 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@durhamcollege.ca