Confederation College receives ambulance donation from Ornge to support paramedic training

By Confederation College

2 min read
Group of people standing in front of a blue and orange ambulance inside a hangar
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Confederation College’s Primary Care Paramedic program has received a donation of a decommissioned ambulance from Ornge, enhancing hands-on training opportunities for students.

The ambulance will be used in the College’s AB 325 Ambulance Operations course and associated practical training, providing students with real-world experience in a simulated emergency response environment. It will replace the program’s current aging ambulance.

“This donation will significantly enhance how we deliver practical training,” said Shane Strickland, Associate Vice-President Academic at Confederation College. “Access to a real ambulance provides students with a more immersive learning experience and helps ensure they are well prepared for the demands of the profession.”

The addition of the ambulance will support student learning in key areas, including patient care, equipment use, and emergency response procedures, aligning with the program’s focus on experiential, career-ready training.

“Supporting the next generation of paramedics is essential to the future of emergency health care,” says Wade Durham, Chief Operating Officer at Ornge. “By donating a decommissioned ambulance to Confederation College, we’re helping students gain hands‑on experience in a real clinical environment while strengthening paramedic education and readiness across Northwestern Ontario.”

Ornge and Confederation College have a longstanding relationship, with shared goals of strengthening paramedic education and supporting health-care services across Northwestern Ontario.

The ambulance is expected to be integrated into training following the completion of transfer and preparation, including updated exterior branding recognizing the donation.

Superior North EMS is further supporting the new ambulance by donating a Stryker Power-PRO 2 hydraulic stretcher compatible with the ambulance’s loading system. The Stryker Power-PRO 2 is the first hydraulic stretcher in the Primary Care Paramedic program’s equipment inventory. Superior North EMS has supported the program with equipment donations in the past, including manual Stryker PRO R3 stretchers donated as the service transitioned to hydraulic equipment.

Ornge, a not-for-profit organization, co-ordinates all aspects of Ontario's air ambulance system, the critical care land transport program, CritiCall Ontario and the authorization of air and land ambulance transfers between hospitals.

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Ambulance with flashing lights parked inside a large garage-like hangar
Three paramedic students stand in front of an ambulance with flashing lights and Confederation College Paramedic Program markings.