Emergency Medical Services
Northwest Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is the Paramedic/Land Ambulance services division of the Kenora District Services Board (KDSB).
As a service of the Kenora District Services Board, Northwest EMS is committed to the provision of effective and efficient District- wide services that support its individuals, families and communities in reaching their full potential.
Northwest EMS is committed to providing exemplary care and transport that meets recognized professional standards in a safe and timely manner to individuals, families and communities in need of assistance.
Our Operations




Ambulance Bases
Nine Ambulance bases are located strategically throughout the Kenora District to provide coverage for our communities.
Dryden Ambulance Base & District Administration Headquarters
51 Memorial Avenue South
Dryden, Ontario, P8N 2L8
(807) 223-2100
Building:
- 8 bays – 9,343 sq. ft.
- KDSB Owned
Vehicles:
- 4 Ambulances (2 frontline, 2 backup)
- 1 Multi-Casualty Support Vehicle
- 2 Emergency Response Vehicles (Support/Command)
- 1 Emergency Response Unit – Community Paramedic
Staffing:
- 911 Response:
- 2 crews daily and 1 crew at night
- Paramedics (11 Full Time, 3 Part-Time, 4 casual)
- 1 Superintendent of Operations – Oversees Central Region operations for the Dryden, Ear Falls and Red Lake Bases
- Community Paramedicine:
- Community Paramedics (2 Full Time, 1 Part Time)
- 1 Community Paramedicine Administrative Assistant
- 1 Superintendent of Community Paramedicine
- Administrative Support:
-
- 1 EMS Administrative Assistant
- 1 EMS Scheduler
- 1 Deputy Chief of Operations
- 1 Deputy Chief of Professional Standards
- 1 Director and Chief of EMS
- 1 Superintendent of Quality Assurance
- 1 Superintendent of Training

Ear Falls Ambulance Base
46 Balsam Street
Ear Falls, Ontario, P0V 1T0
(807) 222-3799
Building:
- 2 bays – 2,476 sq. ft.
- KDSB Owned
Vehicles:
- 2 Ambulances (1 frontline, 1 backup)
Staffing:
- 1 crew – 24/7 (Night On-Call)
- Paramedics (3 Full-Time, 1 Part-Time, 1 Casuals)
- 1 Paramedic Coordinator

Ignace Ambulance Base
301 Rand Street
Ignace, Ontario, P0T 1T0
(807) 934-6465
Building:
- 2 bays – 2,853 sq. ft.
- KDSB Owned
Vehicles:
- 2 Ambulances (1 frontline, 1 backup)
Staffing:
- 1 crew – 24/7 (Night On-Call)
- Paramedics (3 Full-Time, 1 Part-Time, 3 Casuals)
- 1 Paramedic Coordinator

Kenora Ambulance Base
80 Fourteenth Street North
Kenora, Ontario, P9N 4M9
(807) 468-8079
Building:
- 4 bays – 5,561 sq. ft.
- KDSB Owned
Vehicles:
- 5 Ambulances (3 frontline, 2 backup)
- 1 Emergency Response Vehicle (Support/Command)
Staffing:
- 3 crews – On-site 24/7
- 45 Paramedics (22 Full-Time, 7 Part-Time, 16 Casuals)
- 1 Deputy Chief of Operations
- 1 Superintendent of Operations – Oversees western region operations for the Kenora, Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls bases

Kenora Satellite Ambulance Base
2378 Highway 17 East, Suite B
Kenora, Ontario, P9N 0G8
(807) 548-4677
Building:
- 2 bays – 3,024 sq. ft.
- Leased
Vehicles:
- 1 Ambulance
- 1 Emergency Response Vehicle (Support/Command)
- 1 Emergency Response Unit – Community Paramedic
Staffing:
- 911 Response:
- 1 crew – 12/3 (Night On-Call) providing Service to Wabaseemoong Independent Nation
- Paramedics (2 Full-Time)
- 1 Superintendent of Operations – Oversees western region operations for the Kenora, Wabaseemoong Independent Nation, Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls bases
- Community Paramedicine:
- Community Paramedics (2 Full Time)
Nestor Falls Ambulance Base
7 Airport Road, Highway 71 South
Nestor Falls, Ontario, P0X 1K0
(807) 484-2300
Building:
- 2 bays – 2,750 sq. ft.
- Leased from Township of SN/NF
Vehicles:
- 1 Ambulance
Staffing:
- 1 crew – 12/3 (Night On-Call)
- alternating schedule with Sioux Narrows to give 24 hour coverage in the area
- Paramedics (2 Full-Time)

Pickle Lake Ambulance Base
20 Patricia Avenue
Pickle Lake, Ontario, P0V 3A0
(807) 928-2081
Building:
- 2 bays – 1,590 sq. ft.
- Leased from Township
Vehicles:
- 2 Ambulances (1 frontline, 1 backup)
Staffing:
- 1 crew – 24/7 (Night On-Call)
- Paramedics (3 Full-Time, 1 Part-Time)
- 1 Paramedic Coordinator

Red Lake Ambulance Base
51D Highway 105
Red Lake, Ontario, P0V 2M0
(807) 727-3286
Building:
- 2 bays – 2,853 sq. ft.
- Leased from Red Lake Hospital
Vehicles:
- 2 Ambulances (1 frontline, 1 backup)
- 1 Emergency Response Unit – Community Paramedic
Staffing:
- 911 Response:
- 1 crew – 24/7
- Paramedics (8 Full-Time, 1 Part-Time, 1 Casuals)
- 1 Paramedic Coordinator
- Community Paramedicine:
- Community Paramedics (1 Full Time)

Sioux Lookout Ambulance Base
3 Meno-Ya-Win Way
Sioux Lookout, Ontario, P9T 1B8
(807) 737-4366
Building:
- 3 bays – 4,843 sq. ft.
- KDSB Owned
Vehicles:
- 3 Ambulances (2 frontline, 1 backup)
- 1 Emergency Response Vehicle (Support/Command)
- 1 Emergency Response Unit – Community Paramedic
Staffing:
- 911 Response:
- 2 crews – 24/7
- Paramedics (14 Full-Time, 6 Part-Time, 3 Casuals)
- 1 Superintendent of Operations – Oversees eastern region operations for the Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake and Ignace bases
- Community Paramedicine:
- Community Paramedics (1 Full Time)

Sioux Narrows Ambulance Base
10 Fickas Road, Highway 71 South
Sioux Narrows, Ontario, P0V 1N0
(807) 226-5218
Building:
- 2 bays – 2,509 sq. ft.
- Leased from Township of SN/NF
Vehicles:
- 2 Ambulances (1 frontline, 1 backup)
Staffing:
- 1 crew – 24/4 alternating schedule with Nestor Falls to give 24 hour coverage in the area
- Paramedics (3 Full-Time, 1 Part-Time, 2 Casuals)
- 1 Paramedic Coordinator

Northwest EMS Paramedics
In the Kenora District, Northwest EMS is extremely proud of our Paramedics and the care they provide to our public.
Paramedic Education in Ontario
What skills does a Primary Care Paramedic typically have?
Northwest EMS Primary Care Paramedic Groups and Teams
The following is a list of Paramedic groups that help improve our operations:
Peer Support Team
KDSB staff members in partnership with Naotkamegwanning EMS have developed a peer support team which allows for staff to have contact with a peer 24/7, 365 days a year.
This peer support is available to all KDSB staff and is comprised of people who were nominated by their peers, and are people who want to help coworkers in their times of need.
Their goal is to improve the emotional wellness of peers in the workplace.
EMS Technology Working Group
Response Times
To improve quality of care, Northwest EMS provides to communities, there is a need to continually evaluate and reassess the work that we do.
One of the key documents we provide annually to the Ministry of Health is a Response Time Performance Plan. We set our goals and do our best to achieve them. The Kenora District is unique in the Province of Ontario. In order to achieve our patient care response times, Northwest EMS:
- Strategically locates its bases to provide the best response times possible
- Works daily with the Ministry of Health Central Ambulance Communications Centre to maintain proper and appropriate coverage