KAWARTHA LAKES-The City of Kawartha Lakes recently broke ground on the future Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service Headquarters located at 230 Angeline Street South in Lindsay.
City officials, past and present Paramedic Service representatives, staff and project partners gathered for brief remarks, a ceremonial ground-breaking and group photo. Completion is targeted for 2028.
“It’s a really exciting day for our service and one that’s been a long time coming,” said Sara Johnston, Chief of Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service. “It’s really a privilege to stand here today on behalf of all of our team. You can see how many excited paramedics there are, both current and past. This project belongs to all of them. It reflects years of hard work, commitment and care for this community. I’m incredibly proud of our team, and grateful that we are creating a space that will support them and the important work they do for many years to come.”
The City says the new headquarters will centralize paramedic services and support future growth while consolidating some of our existing paramedic service locations into one modern, central hub. The facilities being considered for consolidation are:
- Response Station – 89 St. David Street, Lindsay
- Response Station – 68 McLaughlin Road, Lindsay
- Training Facility – 710 Cameron Road, Cameron
- Paramedic Headquarters – 4 Victoria Avenue, Lindsay
- Community Paramedic Station – 972 Eldon Road, Oakwood
- Logistics and Vehicle Storage – 1 Industrial Park Road, Fenelon Falls
- Storage Facility – 2255 Elm Tree Road, Cambray
- Storage Facility – Quonset Hut 39 West Street South, Fenelon Falls
The consolidation of these facilities will not affect paramedic response times in northern Kawartha Lakes according to the City. The response stations in the north will remain operational and will be addressed in the future according to the Paramedic Service Master Plan. Except for the response stations in Lindsay, the locations being considered for consolidation are administrative, training, and fleet/equipment storage facilities.
“This project gives us the room we desperately need to grow alongside our expanding community, ensuring our paramedics have a modern space that supports the critical work they do every day,” said Mike Locke, President of OPSEU Local 371 and Kawartha Lakes Paramedic for 20 years. “It represents a fantastic step towards modern, fully independent, and purpose-built EMS stations all across Kawartha Lakes. This is a vital investment in the health and safety of our residents and an investment in the professionals who serve them. Thank you to everyone who’s worked so hard to make this vision a reality. We can’t wait to call this new facility home.”
The overall investment in the new headquarters is estimated to be $50 million with funding coming from the municipality, the province, and development charges. The building is being built on leased land.
“This building will be far more than bricks and mortar. It will be our home. It will be a place where we learn from one another, mentor future paramedics, and strengthen the bond that makes us a team. It will be a place where we gather before shift with purpose, and return knowing there is a space of our own to decompress, process difficult calls, support one another, and take care of each other,” said Michelle Bell, who is on the steering committee and has been a Kawartha Lakes Paramedic since 2002. “Having a place to truly call our own means more than words can express. It reflects the values this community places on its paramedics and the important work we do every day,” Michelle continued. “On behalf of your frontline paramedics, thank you for believing in us, investing in us, and for supporting us.”
For project updates, visit the Lindsay Major Projects page.
