Local paramedics among five awarded with Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery

Two local paramedics among five received the Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery Monday recognizing their courage and risking their lives in the service of others.

The ceremony took place at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto with the province’s Lt.-Gen. Edith Dumont, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones presenting the medals.

“Every day, Ontario’s heroic paramedics risk their lives in the service of their communities,” said Jones in a statement. “The courage displayed by this year’s recipients represents the very best of Ontario and I am honoured to present this year’s recipients with the Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery.”

Primary care paramedic Mark Haynes with the Haldimand County Paramedic Services was awarded for his efforts in saving a drowning man and his grandson near Chutes Provincial Park on Aug. 5, 2023.

Haynes was on vacation at the time, but when he saw the older man attempting to save his grandson in the water, he rushed into the water.

The child was able to swim to safety, but the older man struggled to stay above the water. Haynes swam out to the man after he began to sink below the surface, and kept the man above the water so he could breathe as he carried him back to shore.

Advanced Care Paramedic Stefan Janosevic with Hamilton Paramedic Services was awarded for his handling of a risky situation involving a motor vehicle crash and possible firearm on June 19, 2025.

While responding to a crash, a fellow first responder told Janosevic that a firearm was observed in one of the vehicles, but police had not yet arrived on the scene.

The individual attempted to flee while possibly armed, before Panosevic chased them down to prevent them from fleeing before police arrived, while also not compromising the person’s safety.

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