Perth County Paramedics recognized by Governor General for excellence in emergency medical care and community involvement

Brian Stoeser, Tracy Cleary, Monia Tousignant, Steve Potz and Jacquie Ussher received the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service medals for 2025. Pictured here, from left to right, are Cleary, Tousignant, Ussher and Potz.

Members of the Perth County Paramedic Services earned prestigious awards for excellence in emergency medical care and community service.

Brian Stoeser, Tracy Cleary, Monia Tousignant, Steve Potz and Jacquie Ussher earned the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service medals for 2025. The national awards recognize its recipients for their years of service and hours of involvement in the community. Between 100 to 110 in Ontario received the federal award in 2025.

“That's a lot of dedication, both at work and in their personal lives that both strive to better our communities and our patient care,” said Tristan Barter, deputy chief of operations. “They should be really proud of that accomplishment and in turn, we’re obviously super excited and proud for them."

The award recipients’ involvement in the community includes, but is certainly not limited to, coaching youth hockey, carrying wreaths at Remembrance Day ceremonies, volunteering at schools and participating in special events such as funerals. The Perth County Paramedics Services team also runs food drives, public education programming and will help out with the Downie Optimist Club with water safety days.

Barter said the awards speak to the leadership of the paramedics who received them.

“It just goes to show that those true leaders at any job or any service lead by example, so this is an example of somebody who not only comes to work and does a great job at work, but also involves themselves in the community and is a leader as a paramedic, as an employee, as a coworker, so that just shows the true colours of those people,” he said.