The Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge has awarded a tender to construct a new 2,240-square-foot ambulance base on Marian Street in Kakabeka Falls to Aurora Construction Ltd.
From the new location, Superior North Emergency Medical Services, a division of the City of Thunder Bay’s Development & Emergency Services Department, will provide land ambulance service to nearby municipalities and unincorporated areas. The City of Thunder Bay assumed land ambulance service delivery responsibilities for the north-west region in 2001.
“This new facility is an example of our city and surrounding municipalities coming together with forward-thinking solutions for residents that optimize safety and efficiencies,” Mayor Bill Mauro said in a press release. “We can all be proud of the efforts put forth to make this shared vision a reality.”
Superior North Emergency Medical Services determined that a base located in Kakabeka Falls would significantly improve paramedic utilization, service, and response time for the surrounding communities.
These benefits motivated the City of Thunder Bay, Superior North EMS, and Oliver Paipoonge to collaborate with a long-term lease agreement for the new facility expected to open in early 2021.
“I am pleased the municipality is a part of this collaborative effort to improve service delivery in the area,” says Lucy Kloosterhuis, mayor of Oliver Paipoonge.
The new base features one drive-through bay, which allows easy and safe movement of vehicles. It is designed and constructed to resist 100-year storm events, which ensures the service delivery can be maintained in the most difficult conditions.