LANARK COUNTY – Lanark County has appointed a new Chief of Paramedic Service who is currently celebrating his first day on the job.

“Congratulations to Travis Mellema who has been appointed Chief, Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS) effective today – March 2,” Almonte General Hospital communications lead Jane Adams released in a statement today.

Mellema is replacing outgoing chief Ed McPherson who retired Feb. 29 after serving as chief since 2013.

Mellema joined LCPS as a Primary Care Paramedic in May 2005 and has been Deputy Chief of Operations, Clinical Performance Management and Professional Standards since May 2017. He has also been a Facilitator/Educator with the Regional Paramedic Program of Eastern Ontario since 2011.

Members of the selection committee were impressed with Mellema’s commitment to safe, high quality care for patients and to a safe, high quality working environment for paramedics and LCPS staff. 

“As deputy chief, Travis has provided leadership to numerous quality and operational initiatives, including preparation for the Service’s very successful inspection by the Ministry of Health this past summer,” AGH President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider said. “He has been a champion for ensuring our staff are well supported in both physical and mental health and has been active as a Peer Support Team Member and Coordinator since 2013.”

Retiring Chief Ed McPherson commented it was his extreme pleasure to pass on the command of the paramedic service to Chief Mellema.

“Chief Mellema is a highly respected member of the paramedic community and his leadership and organizational skills are well known to many,” he said. “He is a true leader and will move the paramedic service forward to new heights.” 

LCPS is operated by Almonte General Hospital under contract with the County of Lanark. LCPS is the sole provider of emergency medical response within the County of Lanark – a service district encompassing 3,074 square kilometres with a population of 57,000 people.