Charbonneau to retire from Frontenac Paramedic Services

Feb 27, 2019

Paul Charbonneau, Chief Paramedic at Frontenac Paramedic Services, announced his retirement in front of Frontenac County Council on Wednesday February 20.

“I’m very proud of what I have accomplished in my career and especially my time here at Frontenac Paramedic Services serving the citizens of the County of Frontenac and the City of Kingston,” said Chief Charbonneau.

"Chief Charbonneau is going to be greatly missed. He’s has been an inspiration to his team and is well respected in the paramedic community," said Frontenac County Warden Ron Higgins. “I’ve come to know the Chief as someone who lives and breathes his profession and truly cares about the patients and paramedics," Higgins said.

Chief Charbonneau joined FPS in September 2004 as Chief Paramedic and immediately oversaw the transitioning of Kingston Regional Ambulance (Hotel Dieu Hospital), Parham Ambulance and Wolfe Island Volunteer Ambulance Association into FPS. 

His paramedic career spans 44 years, beginning as a paramedic with the Department of Ambulance Services in Toronto in March 1975. He managed paramedic services in James Bay and Nipigon and oversaw the amalgamation of 10 rural services into one region of Superior North EMS.

“I’ve worked with Chief Charbonneau during my five years at the County and in that period he’s been an innovative and passionate leader overseeing the construction of new bases at Robertsville, Sydenham and Wolfe Island,” said Frontenac County CAO Kelly Pender. “He also led the introduction of power stretchers into the service and he is a strong advocate for the mental wellbeing of his paramedics,” Pender said, adding that Chief Charbonneau also introduced Collaborative Culture of Safety -sometimes known as Just Culture- to the County of Frontenac.

Chief Carbonneau has held positions with the Ontario Paramedic Association and the Paramedic Association of Canada – Benevolent Society. He is the Past President of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC) and the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada (PCC).

Chief Carbonneau is the recipient of the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal recognizing 40 years of service, the OAPC Lieutenant General Richard Rohmer Commendation and the OAPC President’s Award of Excellence.

About Frontenac Paramedic Services
Frontenac Paramedic Services operates seven paramedic stations to service a population of nearly 150,000 people in the Townships of North, Central, South Frontenac and the Frontenac Islands and the City of Kingston. FPS responds to approximately 22,000 calls for service each year.