‘It really puts into perspective how dangerous this job can be and how things can really turn in an instant when dealing with somebody who can be unpredictable’
Another Canadian paramedic has fallen victim to assault, highlighting the growing risks faced by Canada’s frontline emergency health workers.
On the evening of Sunday, October 26, a female paramedic with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) was assaulted while filling her ambulance at the Canco gas station on Tranquille Road in North Kamloops, reported CFJC Today.
An unknown man approached and punched her in the face without provocation, according to the report.
Bystanders rushed to assist, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded quickly, detaining the suspect.
The paramedic was transported to hospital for assessment and, though shaken, has since returned to work as her injuries were not deemed significant, according to the report.
“Our thoughts are with this paramedic, their colleagues and loved ones as they recover from this incident,” said BCEHS, according to the CFJC report. “We know the impact of violent incidents can resonate beyond the immediate event, and this paramedic is being offered all the support they need, including mental health supports.”
BCEHS has notified WorkSafeBC about the assault and committed to implementing any recommendations that arise from the review. The agency has also increased violence prevention training and mental health supports for paramedics, stating, “We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure BCEHS employees are able to do their jobs safely.”
Growing incident of violence against paramedics
This incident is not isolated. According to Ian Tait, communications director for Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia (CUPE 873), unprovoked violence against paramedics has been on the rise in 2025. “The frustrating part is we’re seeing it from a lot of the unhoused and people who are suffering from mental health,” Tait told CFJC. “It really puts into perspective how dangerous this job can be and how things can really turn in an instant when dealing with somebody who can be unpredictable.”
Currently, the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada (PCC) and the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) are looking to better understand the context of assaults against paramedics.
“Canada has an international reputation for being a peaceful country, yet for the past 8–10 years the number of reports of violent acts being committed against paramedics in this country has been steadily increasing,” read part of the Letter of Information for the Canadian Study of Violence Against Paramedics (CSVAP).
“Unfortunately, the breadth, depth, scope, and severity of the violence and its effects – physical and psychological – on the paramedics and their families remains relatively unknown and undocumented.”
The PCC and PAC are conducting a study to collect the data necessary to fill the present gap in knowledge about violence against paramedics in Canada, the context of such incidents, and the impact these incidents have on the mental health and well-being of paramedics and their families.
