Hutch Ambulance Service held an appreciation lunch on May 25 for the Assiniboia community to meet staff and view its new ambulance with the latest in medical technology.
The lunch event also marked Paramedics Services Week taking place from May 30 to June 2.
The lunch attracted 125 people for beef-on-a-bun, salads and a drink. It was sponsored by Southland Co-op, Assiniboia Bakery, 121 Steakhouse, Integra Tire and Assiniboia Composite High School.
The proceeds went to the Assiniboia Gymnastics Club and the Assiniboia Food Bank and each received $371. Dorrel Weal from the gymnastics club and Darlene Wasyluk from the food bank stopped in on May 30 to pick up the donations.
“We would like to make this an annual event,” stated Hutch’s Krista Borgerson. Each year they hope to make a donation to a different community group.
Hutch Ambulance, owned by Kathy Kennedy, began operations in November 2008 and now operates in Assiniboia, Ponteix, Moosomin and surrounding areas. The service is always busy.
Assiniboia responds to approximately 650 calls a year and the bulk of these calls are local. Hutch has two full-time crews as well as extra staff.
Assiniboia is also fortunate to have two full-time advanced paramedics, Donna Cecette and Destin Ashton. This is a rarity in a community the size of Assiniboia. Borgerson noted that the staff gives “110 per cent” of themselves to the calls because they are dedicated to serving the community. At the same time, few realize the sacrifices that the crew has to make to provide round-the-clock service each day of the week such as missing family events.
