THUNDER BAY – Superior North EMS chief Wayne Gates has announced his upcoming retirement, after a long career with the paramedicine agency.
Gates made the announcement at a meeting of Thunder Bay’s city council on Monday, saying he will depart at the end of the year.
Gates, a former paramedic, was appointed as chief in 2016, after serving as acting chief since the previous year. He served as deputy chief before that.
He received the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Medal from the Governor General of Canada in 2008.
While Gates reported “mixed feelings” about leaving, after over 35 years, he said “it’s time for me to go into retirement, and for new people to step up into the role.”
In an interview, Gates said what stuck with him most from his time in the role was seeing the outstanding efforts of front-line paramedics.
“Just getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, our paramedics were stepping up when a lot of people were stepping back. That’s what I can say, is the city of Thunder Bay and the district are very fortunate that, in my view, they have probably the best paramedics in the entire country.”
It’s a job he said had transformed over the course of his career, from the transition from paper to digital to increasing service demands and the introduction of home visits through community paramedicine programs.
Paramedics also require more education and training now than when he started, he noted.
“Our environment has changed so much over the last 10 to 20 years,” he said.
Superior North EMS confronted challenges including rapidly rising demand and periodic ambulance shortages during, and before, Gates’ time at the helm.
The service looked to respond by expanding operations and, controversially, consolidating EMS bases in areas of lower demand like Greenstone and the North Shore, among other strategies.
His time as chief also saw the service grow its community paramedicine service, an initiative he called important and hopes will continue to find provincial support.
Superior North EMS reported last year the program had measurably cut 911 calls and ER visits.
In retirement, Gates said he and his spouse, Maggie, are looking forward to enjoying some down time and travel.
With files from Vasilios Bellos, TBT News.
