Robertsville Ambulance Base finally gets its LEED

Jeff Green | Oct 19, 2016

In 2008 a consultant's report called for an ambulance base to be built at the junction of Roads 509 and Ardoch Road in Central Frontenac to serve residents in North and Central Frontenac and motorists on Highway 7 between Kaladar and Brooke Valley.

A lot happened after that, including a plan to build a base and a fire hall in Ompah, but after six years a base was opened in July of 2014 at the corner of Road 509 and Robertsville Road, a few kilometres from where the consultant's report had recommended, but in North Frontenac.

Since then, the base has been a success, serving residents in North and Central Frontenac as well as Lanark Highlands and Tay Valley townships, and motorists on Highway 7. It was originally going to be a satellite base, meaning crews would start and end their 12-hour shift at the Parham base and would then drive north, but from the day it opened it has been a full base, offering 12 hours of service.

Now, two years and two months after it opened, it has received a LEED Silver designation for its design and building materials. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a rating system that awards points for everything from the materials used, the use of passive solar heating, and intangibles such as the placement of bicycle racks in parking lots.

At a ceremony marking the LEED certification last week, the contractor who built the base was on hand, as was County Warden Frances Smith, North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins, Frontenac County Chief of Paramedic Services Paul Charbonneau, and the paramedics who were on duty at the time.

“Both of the bases Frontenac County has built since taking on responsibility for paramedic services have been LEED certified,” said Charbonneau. “The Sydenham base is gold certified and this one obtained the silver. The effort to achieve this standard is consistent with the county's commitment to sustainability.”

Warden Smith, nearby in Central Frontenac, not far from the base's location, said, “It's wonderful to have such a good facility available to us here in the northern part of the county.”

LEED is a rating system that is a recognized mark of excellence for green building in 150 countries.