A generous investment of $500,000 is being made to improve emergency care in Simcoe County, as a local individual has come forward to fund the purchase of two new ambulances.
Thanks to an anonymous donor from the community, two brand-new ambulances will soon be hitting the roads in Simcoe County.
The donor reached out to the leadership of Paramedic Services earlier this year to explore ways they could assist emergency medical services within the community, according to a staff report shared at Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
Initially, the donor asked about the price for one ambulance but later decided they wanted to fund two instead. They have since provided county officials with a cheque for $500,000. The funds will go into the Fleet and Heavy Equipment Asset Management Reserve – Paramedic Services and will be used for purchasing two new ambulances as part of the 2026 capital budget.
In a letter addressed to county officials, the donor emphasized their belief that everyone in a community should find ways to help their neighbors whenever possible.
“Some help is small, like a smile and showing respect, while others may be able to give financially for a cause. We believe that donating funds to the County of Simcoe, for the specific reason of purchasing ambulances to serve the people who rely on Paramedic Services, is a reasonable and meaningful action,” wrote the donor.
Jane Sinclair, general manager of Health and Emergency Services for Simcoe County, expressed immense gratitude for this donation on behalf of Paramedic Services.
“This was brought forward as an act to support communities and draw attention to what paramedic services do in these areas,” said Chief Sarah Mills, head of Simcoe County Paramedic Services. “They felt strongly about giving back and helping their neighbors.”
Mills added that adding two new ambulances will benefit all residents in the county.
“The way our ambulance services operate means those ambulances will be everywhere. It really shows how citizens in Simcoe County think thoughtfully about their community. We are incredibly grateful for this donation.”
At present, there are 95 vehicles in the county’s fleet: 53 ambulances and 19 rapid response units used for logistics, medical supplies, maintenance, and supporting the county’s community paramedicine team.
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