Paying tribute to fallen paramedics

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Chris Snowball of Burlington was an Orange paramedic when he was killed on the job after his helicopter crashed en route to an emergency. Three years later, a fundraising initiative to build the first monument to commemorate paramedics killed on the job was announced. Snowball’s family started the campaign and were on hand for the announcement with support from Burlington MPP Elanore MacMahon.

“I want to see this paramedic memorial in Ontario so that his children can see that their father was a hero and for all other paramedics that passed away, that their families can come to the memorial to see their names on the wall and that they all serve as heroes.” John Snowball, Chris’ father.

The memorial will cost about $1 million, which will be raised by Ontario’s paramedics. Across Canada, 11 paramedics lost their lives on duty over the last decade and even more have taken their lives in far less time. The number of paramedic suicides rose dramatically from 5 in 2014, to 16 in 2015. So far this year, 11 have committed suicide.