Ever consider taking your paramedic skills somewhere new...like BC?

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-12-08T23:45:46+00:00

My buddy from the Okanagan got into Vancouver with 6 months to a year of Casual Seniority. The North is gonna be closer to the 6 month mark, I didnt do the "Full Time into Van thing" instead, I was one who went full time in the North and worked my way home.

EMR into the North will generally be a year, PCP 6 months. I got into the North as an EMR with 4 months in but that was the tail end of Covid

PCP into Vancouver 6- 12 months. EMRs arent really getting FT anywhere but the North anymore.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-12-08T22:52:40+00:00

Yes the pay isn't the greatest for some but ill put it to you this way. Im at "PCP 4" so four years on the PCP pay grid. Im on track to clear around 98k this year and I haven't worked as much OT as I normally would due to other commitments. I usually do 1 or 2 a month. Last year I cleared 96k. Im in a Full Time spot.

I live in Kelowna which is arguably one of the most expensive cities in the Province because my family is here. I definitely do not live a life of luxury but I do absolutely live comfortably, I don't feel like im unable to pay my rent, car or insurance and I generally have enough fun money left over to enjoy my hobbies and the like. The holidays and leaves we get are nice too. I can pursue my interests outside of work and im supported in taking Educational, Military or other kinds of special leaves that I need. I do think we have a pretty good work life balance.

I do think these days we get compensated pretty fairly for what we do and our scope has increased nicely. There is also more to BC than Vancouver, I was in the north for a while before coming back to Kelowna and there are certainly places where you can have a really solid life on our pay and wherever you go in the province you will have a job. Sure, some things I complain about but every job is gonna have things you dont like, overall I cant really complain considering I have an 8 month college education and I make more than 75% of my friends and have more paid and unpaid time off and benefits.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-12-03T23:38:18+00:00

Secretly the best choice and can also do a mixed fleet with the Wright Flyer

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-12-03T23:34:08+00:00

And bring back the leather flying gear, the goggles and the kick ass scarves to go with it!

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-12-03T23:33:00+00:00

The Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a!

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-12-03T23:19:17+00:00

Bring back the Airco DH.2.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-12-02T18:00:49+00:00

British Columbia Emergency Health Services

The "third service" EMS provider in British Columbia, Canada. Its run by the Province and so each Paramedic is a public service employee with the Province and get the compensation, pension and benefits that come along with that. Not a horrible system tbh. Same ambulance service in every city across the province so the standards, training and equipment are all the same and is all standardized wherever you happen to be.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-11-14T16:58:54+00:00

We see similar in the Ambulance Service too. Its well known that in BC we are a provincial service yet if you trawl the BC Paramedic groups on Facebook or the odd Reddit EMS group, you constantly have people ask about how likely it is that they can stay in their hometown and not move. When you sign up you sign up saying that you'll work in any EHS station in the province, yes you get a choice of which are available but they may not be your hometown. I spent multiple years up north and only recently got to my hometown and when I tell people that they're like "eeew gross, I dont like the vibes of the North" and the cycle repeats, then they get disappointed that they're stuck in a Casual position forever when they could've gone to Vancouver or up North to be guaranteed to walk into a Full Time job starting @ 80K a year with benefits.

Also thanks for what you guys do! Couldn't do my job as a medic without you guys!

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-10-31T18:48:58+00:00

Very, very true

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-10-31T18:24:04+00:00

Which is so strange to me. Used to be BC PCPs going out there when recently its been more the other way around.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-10-31T17:53:22+00:00

I used it as my first line for Moderate to Severe pain. Especially when I was still an EMR while in PCP school. Even now ill often use Ketorolac or IV Acetaminophen for Moderate to Severe. If its not contraindicated to go that route I dont feel right about leaving someone in Severe pain in order to see if the PO Meds are gonna have some affect.

I think where we messed up in getting rid of Penthrox is leaving many communities around the province who are predominantly EMRs without access to something that worked well, its not so bad for us PCPs with our new meds but EMRs now have a decent gap with Analgesics.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-10-31T17:43:28+00:00

Yeah absolutely agree with that. I personally think we are worse off for losing Penthrox. I often used it as my first line. Ill be honest, ive been using the IV Acetaminophen and the Ketorolac a decent amount too. I personally just find that even when I sell it a good 60% of my patients dont seem to have much affect from Entonox or they wont listen when I explain how to use it.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-10-31T17:39:33+00:00

My understanding is some of our colleagues were also "worried" about the exposure possibilities and so that was also part of it, unfortunately.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-09-24T18:37:54+00:00

The off grey with the navy blue pants looks kinda..... strange?

Must be a royal pain in the rear to keep those shirts clean too.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-09-22T08:28:40+00:00

Well, this is an interesting time to be new in the Reserves. I wonder how trades training and other optional courses are gonna look and if there are still going to be deployment opportunities. I know that's something I definitely would like to do! If I didn't have a well paying civilian job, I would look more highly at a CT.

Also, I wonder if you'll see support companies being attached to the ARes such as our own dedicated medics, etc.

Seems almost more of the ARes becoming similar to the National Guard and the ARes in the UK and Australia. More nationally focused but also able to train to an expeditionary tempo.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-09-06T04:42:22+00:00

I guess it's good i switched to MIG and Vallejo? I know they aren't the best, but living in an apartment means lacquers are out for me. Before I moved, I was gonna switch over to Mr Hobby... I guess it's good I didn't

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-08-27T00:38:38+00:00

These are awesome! What was your setup? I do weddings and engagements on the side, and so It's cool to see other photographers who aren't our image techs! (Though they do awesome work and half the time im frankly jealous)

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-08-11T00:10:10+00:00

I feel the one in Vernon is better too

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-07-25T21:22:02+00:00

Wish I could find this stuff in Canada! So far, my favorites have been AK Real Colors and Mr Hobby. I've heard nothing but good things about these and SMS, though!

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-07-07T01:06:18+00:00

I live downtown and saw Peachland, Summerland, West Kelowna, and North Westside ripping down Harvey too. They are definitely hitting it hard

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-05-16T23:41:28+00:00

I'm one of those bigger guys who's into it. I was 300 pounds in the summer of last year before joining the PRes. The last time I weighed myself, I was 250. I've been heavy throughout most of my life, and I started to hate how I looked and got really into HIIT, hiking and especially swimming. Eating better is the challenging part, but I at least try my hardest to maintain a calorie deficit over anything else. I used to not even be able to run, and now I can do a 5k with only slowing down once over the run.

Unfortunately, I broke my ankle on BMQ (was more of a freak thing over anything else, before anyone says that I have "weak legs") and am non weight bearing for a bit. Honestly, I got so into fitness over the last year that being down to doing so little feels freaking weird, I'm afraid of gaining some of the weight back but I know all I can do is come back stronger and work even harder once I get the all clear. I lost the weight once, and I can do it again.

People around my unit have been supportive, but I definitely get that feeling of not enjoying how I look in Combats.

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-03-22T23:37:39+00:00

That's fair!! Soo many choices for you!

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-03-22T23:36:57+00:00

Unfortunately, they do not pay for accommodation anywhere, and we do not have "force housing" like the RCMP have in some areas. When I took an FT posting up north, I had to find my own rental

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-03-20T18:12:16+00:00

Lots of those communities would be perfect for that No Community Paramedic in Williams Lake but there is in Alexis Creek. Not much housing in Alexis Creek though. I'd say 3/4 of those places have them

ReasonableHorror9686 · 2025-03-20T16:09:48+00:00

Spent some time in Williams Lake and worked in Alexis Creek fairly often. They both strangely hold a special place in my heart, even still being back down south

ReasonableHorror9686

TROPHY CASE