Lanark County paramedic awarded province’s highest honour for the role
Posted May 31, 2025 06:25:20 PM.
Last Updated Jun 2, 2025 09:31:33 AM.
Lanark County Paramedic Superintendent Michael White was awarded the Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery last week, recognizing his heroic actions on New Year’s Day.
In the early hours of Jan. 1, a call came in through the radio of a single-vehicle rollover where the car was on fire. Recognizing he was closer than the responding crew, White immediately attached himself to the call.
White said that when he arrived the car was engulfed in flames. He was informed by a bystander that there was a person in the vehicle, unconscious.
White describes the fire encroaching on the hood of the vehicle and not being able to get the front doors opened. He pried open the back and pulled the person out, immediately beginning resuscitation.
“Unfortunately, the person did not survive,” White told CityNews. But it was his bravery that gave the person a fighting chance.
It is often forgot about that first responders are people too. They are under immense pressure everyday but their actions and decisions save many lives.
“It’s always a challenge when you are dealing with another human being,” White said. “I’ve been doing it for 16 years, you get into a different head space.”
White said each responder has their own individual coping strategies, but for him he relies on his faith.
The community, upper levels of EMS and the province have faith in responders like White.
“I was totally shocked. It meant a lot,” White said about receiving the accolade. “I don’t usually like being the centre of attention”, he chuckled.
Even when awarded the highest honour, White still thinks about giving back.
“The more I think about it, it meant a lot to my family too,” he said. “They give a lot have a family member who is a first responder.”
White was one of seven paramedics to be awarded the honour this year. Since its inception, less than one per cent of the province’s 11,000 paramedics have received the medal. Four of those have been from Lanark County.
