Our Response Model
Paramedic deployment is dynamic to ensure timely response to emergency calls in our district.
Our fleet includes a range of paramedic response vehicles, including ambulances, Paramedic Response Units (PRUs), and Community Paramedicine vehicles.
Paramedic Bases
Paramedics operate from several bases in our service area.
Regional Emergency Services Complex
65 Old Garden River Road
Sault Ste. Marie Fire Station 1
72 Tancred Street (Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services)
Garden River First Nation Base
33 Shingwauk Street (Garden River Fire Department)
Goulais River Satellite Station
240 Old Highway 17 Road (Goulais Fire & Rescue)
New Station
A new paramedic base at Bennett/Boundary is also anticipated in 2026.
Coverage
While crews begin their shifts at designated stations, units are not fixed to one location. They are repositioned throughout the day based on call demand to ensure balanced coverage across the service area and the closest available response when emergencies occur.
Most responses originate from the RESC, Garden River, and Goulais River areas; however, paramedics may respond from wherever they are located following completion of a call.
When capacity allows, crews may also support non-urgent patient transfers alongside emergency response.
Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS)
Effective April 15, 2026, Sault Ste. Marie Paramedic Services, along with Ambulance Communication Officers at the Sault Ste. Marie Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC), have implemented the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS).
MPDS is an evidence-based medical triage system that improves how 911 calls are assessed and how paramedic resources are dispatched. It helps ensure that the most urgent calls receive the fastest response, while matching each call to the appropriate level of care.
What this means for when you call 911
Calling 911 remains the same. Residents should continue to call for life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain or stroke symptoms, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, or major trauma.
Callers may be asked more detailed questions about the patient’s condition. This helps determine urgency and ensure the right response is sent.
For non-life-threatening situations, response times may vary based on demand and condition. Ambulance Communication Officers will remain available to provide instructions and updates.
About MPDS
MPDS is an internationally recognized dispatch standard used in ambulance communications centres worldwide and is being implemented across Ontario as part of the Province’s Your Health Plan. It improves patient safety, ensures appropriate response levels, and helps prioritize the most critical emergencies.