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Longlac Paramedic Receives Emergency Medical Medal

October 31, 2003 - Hugette Marchak, a paramedic in Longlac with Superior North Emergency Medical Services has been awarded the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal. Announced by the Chancellory of Honours of the Governor General, Mrs. Marchak received the medal Wednesday, October 15, 2003 at a ceremony in Niagara Falls. The medal is awarded to those with over twenty years service in EMS who have made significant contributions to their communities and to their profession.

Mrs. Marchak was instrumental in starting a First Response Team in Longlac in the mid 1970's. By 1977, mainly due to her persistent efforts, the Ministry of Health converted the First Response Team to a volunteer ambulance service. Huguette, was the key person to keep the service going. Eventually, she became service instructor and taught First Aid and CPR to the public in her days off.

After 26 years, Huguette remains the main force in EMS in Longlac. For most of those years, she has worked with severe staff shortages. Working with a crew of 4-6 staff members, she has led a team who trained and provided service 24/7 for all those years. This was provided at great personal costs. Until the mid 1980's, service was provided completely without compensation. Eventually, Huguette was hired full time, but continued to provide volunteer coverage after her regular hours and on weekends. This volunteer role only ended in 2001.

Besides working all those years with no compensation or for small stipends, Huguette never left the community uncovered. She worked countless hours when she least wanted to. She cancelled her vacations many times because of staff shortages.

Her dedication to EMS in Longlac started in 1976 and continues to this day. She provides training to staff, the public and volunteer standby services at special events. After all those years, she is finally receiving normal pay for her ambulance duty hours. For her unselfish dedication to EMS in the community of Longlac after 28 years of exemplary service, Mrs. Marchak truly exemplifies what the the Governor General's EMS Exemplary Service is medal is about.