Glen Greenhill at the Kin’s Coronation Medal ceremony on July 18, 2024 in Victoria. Submitted
Erin Haluschak
Glen Greenhill recalls 4-decade career as BC Ambulance celebrates 50th anniversary
Glen Greenhill meticulously recalls the first birth he assisted with, and conversely, some of the more tragic moments of his 40-year career.
There have been many more incidents in between – too many to count – but he provides detailed examples as though they all happened within the past few days.
Greenhill is the Comox-Strathcona district manager for clinical operations for BC Emergency Health Services and is celebrating the milestone anniversary – July 20, 1984 – in parallel with BC Ambulance Service’s 50th anniversary, which began in British Columbia in 1974.
His desire for a career as a paramedic began after he took a first aid course suggested by a friend. The course was taught in Courtenay by a woman whose two sons were original members of BCEHS.
“I remember that very first night I went home and did five hours of homework and I was just lapping up everything that I was taking in and I just got bitten by the bug…and then in March I started the process to get hired and I got hired in July of 1984.”
When Greenhill began his career, paramedics were not paid for their shift unless a call came in, however, it took up until the early 2000s for that to change.
“You didn’t really get any money for carrying the pager but you committed to the shift. It wasn’t until 2001 that it started at about a dollar an hour, then a $1.50 an hour, and then $2 per hour for carrying the pager. Sometimes back in the day when I started, it wasn’t as busy, and there were many times you would go buy a coffee and you’re already in the hole for the shift.”
Throughout the decades, he reflects on how the service has changed. The goal has always remained the same: to provide the very best pre-hospital care without judgment, but other factors have changed dramatically throughout his time with the emergency service.
When he began his career as a 21-year-old, there was no support in place for first responders and paramedics following calls. Following severe or traumatic incidents, there were two options: “suck it up and work, or go home.
“We (now) have 100 per cent accessibility to confidential counselling. We have certainly built up robust stress management programs and employee and family assistance support programs. We have a debriefing in the moment as well. Back in the day, that was simply not there, so you didn’t really have a lot of options.”
