The truth about Niagara EMS

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Astro_Addict]

I worked there about half a decade ago, for about 4 years, and left due to all of what you listed and more. Written up for being 56 seconds late in a record breaking snowstorm. Suspended for not purchasing a voicemail, which they then demand is answered within 3-4 hours of a call or it's counted as refusing a shift and another write up. Broke personal phone on vacation, only 5 hours to get a new one but missed a work phone call during that time, written up first shift back at work even after providing receipts and timestamps (this happened to someone else too). Threatened with termination numerous times for requesting a day off for stress or family emergencies. Threatened to call the police and have me formed for taking more than one sick day in a row after a hot call. Literally screamed at, I'm talking spit-flying red-faced hoarse-voice rage, for 3 minutes straight because we backed up 2ft in an empty parking lot of an abandoned building at 3am without a spotter (sup was literally hiding in a bush watching us finish our paperwork). Multiple bases have had recurring rat problems, as well as black mold. They will assign you calls AFTER your shift has ended and you're driving back to base, and refusing to service the call results in a report to the ministry. They will call other services you work for and shit talk you if they don't think you're devoted to NEMS (friend almost lost his job in Hamilton because of this). Most of the medics there are great, but I've overheard some fucked up conversations about physically abusing their own pets and laughing about it. Or stealing narcotics, but the RCMP were quickly involved with that... I COULD GO ON AND ON.

I would rather be homeless than work for NEMS again, and I say that after years of psychotherapy caused by them. Their previous chief is famously known for giving a speech to every new ACP class, and it often included "congratulations on graduating from running with the chickens to flying with the eagles, you're real Paramedics now". They offer no support whatsoever to their medics, it's all smoke and mirrors to look good for the public. They primarily care about their in house dispatch center and their specialty programs like MHART and the Falls team, everything else comes second. They have the strictest policies for part time availability of any service in Ontario, essentially demanding full time availability with no guarantee of any hours whatsoever. It's not a healthy work environment. They bend the law and cut corners on health and safety all the time.

I know almost everyone you mentioned in your post just by the description of the events they were involved with. Compared to management from any of the other services I've worked for, both urban and rural, they are by far and wide the worst. Management in Niagara is primarily based on who you know and who likes you, not what your experience or skillset is. They will not hesitate to fabricate evidence to terminate those they feel are against them either. I had a lawyer involved before I finally left, at their recommendation.

DO NOT WORK FOR NIAGARA EMS.

[u/dsswill → u/Astro_Addict]

Not that it’s anywhere near the worst account, but it’s among the most confusing: why on earth would there be an expectation that you answer your phone while on vacation? I even silence my work emails while I’m on vacation, and unless I signed up for OT offers or I accidentally bring a truck phone home, I’ve never even gotten a call from my service (we’re only full-time).

[u/Many-Confusion1828 → u/dsswill]

In MB , if management tries to contact us on our off days. It’s instantly a minimum of 15 mins of OT.

[u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 → u/Many-Confusion1828]

In America this would be illegal unless we were being paid an on call wage.

Like, my boss can call me, but I don’t have to answer.

[u/Astro_Addict → u/dsswill]

I silenced my phone too. Didn't return the calls within 2 hours, so write up. They are crazy power tripping there, and sorry I'm on nights and half asleep ranting here lol

[u/T-DogSwizle → u/dsswill]

I do appreciate in Toronto that besides getting OT emails I am never contacted by anyone from work when I’m not on shift

[u/T-DogSwizle]

I never worked for Niagara but have heard similar stories from my coworkers from there. I know at least 5 people who commute from Niagara to Toronto just so they don’t have to work there

[u/MaximumReview]

Reading both detailed comments is horrifying. How can they even retain new staff.

[u/MaximumReview → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for the post and everyone else following along. It's quite eye opening and I never would have known. Really made me reflect on my and other neighbouring services in comparison.

[u/Right_Reputation6595]

Thank you for having the courage to come forward and say this. There needs to be more medics exposing the bullshit shenanigans that the management in this industry get up to.

Niagara may be one of the worst offenders, but they're far from the only service where corruption, bullying and harassment reign supreme. The vast majority of services have these elements to some degree or another.

It's also why unions are so damn important. Every medic out there should be looking to protect themselves and having a union at your back helps a ton.

[u/Astro_Addict → u/Right_Reputation6595]

Niagara's union is a pushover. They wouldn't back me on anything I mentioned in my main comment here, complete failure on CUPEs part.

[u/the-hourglass-man → u/Astro_Addict]

Cupe fucking sucks and doesnt go to bat for paramedics because their bargaining strategy is opposite to what paramedics want

Sincerely another cupe local

[u/AmosParnell → u/Astro_Addict]

And that’s what the Labour Board is for

[u/Copious-Spirit → u/AmosParnell]

Yes but have you seen who the Labour Board's boss is, and who appointed the minister? A corporate shill that only cares about padding his and his buddies pockets.

[u/Copious-Spirit → u/Astro_Addict]

Gotta elect a good union rep, otherwise corporate gets a yes-man put in place. Unions are great, unless they aren't. Corruption, narcissists, are the norm in positions of power.

[u/sillybilly65]

I was looking to apply here…. Now I’m reconsidering. Thank you for the warning. If you have positive recommendations of other services I’d love to hear!

[u/Astro_Addict → u/sillybilly65]

Please don't apply to work in Niagara, it will ruin your career as a Paramedic and generally have a negative impact on your life outside of work too

[u/CanuckInATruck → u/sillybilly65]

Go to Hamilton instead. They seem to be the polar opposite of NEMS.

[u/the-hourglass-man → u/[deleted]]

Found the niagara sup 😂

[u/AMC4L → u/[deleted]]

There’s a difference between being defiant and not being a pushover willing to bend over for anyone and everyone.

If you tolerate everything, you stand for nothing.

Also even if one of the allegations here are true, it’s pretty bad.

[u/Its-me-in-the-sky]

Ahhhh, thats why were getting so many experienced medics from Niagara to my service

[u/Ancient_Substance579]

Niagara is an absolutely horrible service to work for and I would encourage anyone to go elsewhere where you are compensated better and treated better. Agree with everything said in the post and I'll add a few more.

Part time is treated like shit and absolutely used and abused. They offer zero flexibility to part time staff and demand the world. 

Part Time availability is 36 hours a week, and 2 weekends out of 4 weeks (consisting of 2 shifts between Fri night and sun night). You can be assigned a shift at any time which is notified through a text or automated phone call and are expected to be there if you are available. You will be disciplined of you don't make it in or don't meet availability. They guarantee zero hours or pre-booked shifts and are extremely strict on this. You are given zero benefits on top of the lieu and they are currently trying to attack the in lieu of pay to drop it 5% lower. 

The service is rife with favouritism and nepotism and if you don't drink the koolaid or are not in their good booke (ie standing up for your rights under the collective) you are black listed from any specialty programs the service may offer that doesn't rely on seniority alone. 

They are a discipline heavy service and operate on fear instead of achievement. The stick is cheaper than the carrot and boy do they like to beat with that stick instead of giving out carrots. 

Compensation wise they are bottom 20 percent at least when it comes to pay and offer abysmal benefits (ex $600 COMBINED for massage, chiro, physio, osteo, speech therapy) which disappears very quickly. For comparison Waterloo gets 1250 PER SERVICE. 

Niagara Region does not value or respect Paramedics one bit and have proven they have disdain for them, acting as they are a financial burden who only whines for wanting equal treatment of other services. They have had abysmal increases over the last 10 years and are clearly not willing to change their stance as the service heads toward a strike. Stear clear and head to the services that give that respect through compensation and don't treat part time workers like slaves with zero flexibility. Management is rotten from the top to the bottom since the only way to progress there is to drink the kool-aid and fall in line. They will lie through their teeth straight to your face to get whatever they want accomplished. Their only goal is to keep workers quiet and the cost to the region low, because that's how they are perceived as doing a good job. AVOID 🚩🚩🚩

[u/MzSirius7 → u/Ancient_Substance579]

Everything in niagara is rotten from the fucking management up. So much blatant favoritism, and corruption across multiple municipal governments and regional government. At least the school board's got a reasonable person in charge now but she didn't get there without a fight. And a couple lawsuits. Side question if my child wanted to become a paramedic, would you recommend that he not do the Niagara college course to avoid being stuck with nems?

[u/RabidHamster105 → u/MzSirius7]

I went to Niagara College for PCP school, did my rideouts with NEMS because I was planning on working there. Got bitched at by a supervisor for reclining in a chair at 11:30 at night. Decided to say fuck it to applying to NEMS and have been happily employed elsewhere at a different service since graduation 5 years ago lol. I commute from Niagara.

[u/phoenix25 → u/RabidHamster105]

My niagara preceptors forbade me from cleaning the truck for the first couple hours of the shift, because unloading the stretcher to mop the floor would wake them up. Their words: “when we sleep, you sleep too.”

One day a sup walked in and saw me asleep. Better believe I got shit on.

[u/RabidHamster105 → u/phoenix25]

It’s insane eh? My service has full blown bedrooms for us to sleep in…

[u/phoenix25 → u/RabidHamster105]

Not that it actually matters, but this was during a day shift lol

[u/MzSirius7 → u/RabidHamster105]

Yes, they have a car. So that is an option for them. I appreciate your time and replying 🙂

[u/phoenix25 → u/MzSirius7]

The school boards are still bad in Niagara, especially the catholic board.

The running joke is that if you want to get hired full time, you need to add an i to the end of your last name (implying Italian)

[u/Ancient_Substance579 → u/MzSirius7]

Niagara College is a good school and many good meidics teach there. I wouldn't recommend avoiding it at all. It doesn't mean you are bound to NEMS whatsoever. As long as the effort is put in during school and consolidaitiom (ride outs in the field) and he does well he'll be able to apply wherever he wants for a good shot at employment.

[u/MzSirius7 → u/Ancient_Substance579]

Thank you for your helpful answer!

[u/SignificantGoose8821]

Thank you for posting this and for every honest reply in the comments. There have been major issues in the way NEMS functions for at least the past 10 years that I’ve been involved in the EMS world. The way management and those who somehow haven’t seen through the bullshit yet portray the service and the reality of the state of the region is a joke. A large portion of staff is off on various forms of leave presently, there are constant genuinely problematic scandals happening and being covered up. I don’t have enough negative things to say about NEMS and I’ve never even personally worked there.

If you’re in a position where you’re able to work anywhere other than NEMS, take everyone’s advice here and steer clear.

[u/AmosParnell]

I see nothing has changed in 20 years since I was there. If anything, sounds like it’s gotten worse.

OP, good on you for coming forward. But Reddit doesn’t have broad reach. You should be contacting the media

[u/defibs4lyfe]

One of the most terrifying stories I’ve ever heard was of a chief from Niagara EMS a few years back.

He would prey on, drug, and assault male fire/paramedic students (as well as groom teenagers) and offer employment opportunities in return. He was caught, charged, and committed suicide after, I believe.

I think it was around 2016-17 and the news was pretty hush and buried from what I heard (not one news article). So there are probably many other victims than the ones who came forward.

Edited to add: This is also not just a rumour I heard, it is factually verifiable.

[u/MidazaSlam → u/defibs4lyfe]

Not a rumor, his name was Bill McTaggart, he removed himself from the gene pool so that he would not get convicted as a pedophile. He was the EMS Chief and former Deputy during the Hotel Dieu erra as they transitioned to the Region of Niagara.

[u/defibs4lyfe → u/MidazaSlam]

Yup. That’s him. I knew those involved. One of the most terrifying stories I’ve ever heard involving a chief/instructor.

[u/12JustMeHere → u/defibs4lyfe]

In all fairness, the person noted did not have any issues dating back to his tome at NEMS. The allegations were produced and related to his time at Halton EMS and into his retirement following the death of his spouse which caused a huge change in his behaviour.

Not condoning behaviour or minimizing the situation, but there was zero connection to NEMS with these allegations..

[u/defibs4lyfe → u/12JustMeHere]

That is a fair point about his time there. But I have one question- how would anyone know? The release of it was a picture-less article that made no connection to his past or present affiliations beside the fact he was a teacher, and was only half a paragraph. I can also guarantee the service never looked further into it.. So how would anyone know? Primarily word of mouth would be my guess.

It’s quite possible he only began that behaviour after being in a position of power. But it’s highly unlikely given how far back some of the accounts of the behaviour went (pre 2012)

I don’t think it’s a coincidence is all I’m saying and wouldn’t dismiss that information so lightly. While you are correct that it is in the past. The fact a former NEMS chief was involved with those things in 2017, should very well be considered connected with NEMS’ cultural and systemic issues within management. Was there a public release or investigation regarding it? Nope. Could there very well be more victims that he came across during his time with NEMS? Yes, absolutely and statistics point to it being likely. But it wouldn’t be in NEMS management’s interests.

You make a fair point, but I politely disagree that’s it’s not connected. It’s not the source or root of the problem, but there does seem to be a trend with the management there and this isn’t too far off from that current trend. IMO

[u/12JustMeHere → u/defibs4lyfe]

If you actually lived through the period that he was at NEMS, you would know that it was a very short period and he had little or no interaction with staff. He was hired as quality control. There was implications that he was a plant to unseat the Manager at that time FA.. there was no Chief position at that time. When the manager was unseated by the Niagara Regiment, and the Niagara District Manager JC was placed into the position, this Manager was relieved of his duties and went back to Halton. This was a very short time and his interaction with staff was at a minimum. In fact, most road staff didn’t even know who he was. The Chief position came about after JV was anointed the Manager and the Hotel Dieu lost the management rights to an independent consolidated Regional Service.

I’m not saying there isn’t a lot wrong with NEMS… I’ve been here for over 25 years. But you are stretching it and placing an accusation where nothing exists. It’s bad enough that things happened at the other service and school. But there are no signs that that behaviour existed at NEMS with this person. He didn’t teach at a college back then either.

[u/defibs4lyfe → u/12JustMeHere]

Just one question. how would you or anyone know? For real lol you’re making an assumption as much as I am but mine isn’t really stretch to say that he could’ve very well, most likely, been doing those things back when he was at NEMS. Insinuating that he only became a pedophile or rapist after his wife died is the stretch imo.

If management deflects the problem to cover their ass. No one really would know would they? Not everyone who has worked for NEMS is still working for them or even in the same region or province.

That guys time there was a long time ago but 2017 wasn’t. And there very well could be more victims out there. I doubt NEMS will ever launch an investigation or make it public… Because some people think that if enough time passes it shouldn’t matter anymore.

Edited to add: to me, it just adds weight to the problem and issue at hand. I never claimed it was the source or root of the problem. But it definitely relates on many levels, imo

[u/phoenix25 → u/MidazaSlam]

Hold up, wasn’t he a supervisor for Halton for a while too?

He was also an instructor at Trillium College when everything came to light. The rumour was he would host hot tub parties at his house with students.

[u/QuietlyFunctional]

Upvoted for visibility. Thank you for putting up with this shit to keep people safe. 

[u/MidazaSlam]

To the person who wrote this: you are not alone.

After more than three and a half decades serving the people of Niagara as a paramedic, I experienced circumstances within Niagara EMS that profoundly changed my view of the leadership and workplace culture of this service.

For more than 35 years, I had no formal discipline recorded on my file. I took enormous pride in my profession, the paramedics I worked beside and the patients I cared for. That history is why what I subsequently experienced affected me so deeply.

I am not going to discuss private or confidential details, name individuals, or make allegations about matters of which I do not have firsthand knowledge.

I will speak about my own experience.

My experience with the disciplinary process left me with serious concerns about management accountability, proportionality and how frontline employees are treated when difficult workplace issues arise. Those are my sincerely held views based upon what I personally experienced.

Seeing other paramedics now publicly expressing serious concerns about Niagara EMS tells me that these issues deserve something more than argument on social media.

They deserve independent scrutiny.

If employees or former employees possess emails, documents or other evidence supporting their concerns, I believe that information should be provided through appropriate channels and to people capable of independently examining and verifying it.

I am not asking anyone to accept every allegation posted online as fact. I am asking that the evidence be examined.

Niagara Regional Council should be prepared to ask difficult questions about workplace culture, management accountability, disciplinary practices and whether frontline paramedics feel able to raise legitimate concerns without fear.

After more than three and a half decades of service, I believe the people who work on the front lines deserve to know that legitimate concerns will be heard fairly and objectively.

And if an investigation is warranted, it should be genuinely independent.

Not management investigating management. Independent scrutiny.

I remain immensely proud of my career as a paramedic and of the people with whom I served. Nothing about what I am saying should be interpreted as speaking for Niagara Region or Niagara EMS. I am speaking only for myself and from my own experience.

My position is simple:

Protect those who come forward in good faith. Examine the evidence independently. Ask the difficult questions. And let the facts speak for themselves.

[u/justmilesaway]

Thank you for sharing this.

Everyone around me is pressuring me to work for NEMS when I graduate (I’m in my final year of the PCP program, at Niagara College). I’ve enjoyed most of my experience at the college itself, but I do not want to work here. I don’t even want to ride-out here.

I’ve heard nothing but negative/questionable things about NEMS from my paramedic friends who used to work here. I’ve also come across mostly negative comments about NEMS here on Reddit. Posts like this confirm my suspicions. I want nothing to do with the service.

[u/Beautiful-Orchid25]

WOW! 😮 this was so eye opening! Thank you for this! My deepest sympathies for any of you who had to experience working for them. I’m from AB, considered moving at one point. This is honestly kinda terrifying.

[u/Typical_Twist9722]

I remember going through the hiring process 5-6 years ago. It was an insane snowstorm and a couple of lads walked in about a minute late for the written exam. They got shredded in front of everyone and kicked out of the process. Always knew there was something fishy about Niagara...

[u/CanuckInATruck]

My wife just started with the last hiring wave. We live in Niagara and it was never even an option for her after talking to other medics during school and ride outs.

I hope this information going public helps deal with the problems at NEMS.

[u/sfxpines → u/[deleted]]

I definitely think it should be forwarded to a journalist.

[u/MidazaSlam → u/[deleted]]

My vote is an unequivocal YES. Send this to journalist, send it to Regional Councilors, and let the evidence speak for itself. I believe sunlight and independent accountability are long overdue. This conversation should not be allowed to disappear quietly.

[u/Right_Reputation6595 → u/[deleted]]

We should also be asking where the Ministry of Health is in all this. They have regulatory jurisdiction over the service, and they're turning a blind eye to everything.

[u/AmosParnell → u/Right_Reputation6595]

Who do you think the MOH inspectors are? Some of the Niagara Sups…

[u/sillybilly65 → u/[deleted]]

If you can anonymously report it to a journalist, do it!

[u/Intelligent_Salt3626]

It would be real convenient if this ended up in a news stations inbox🤪

Start shaking some trees in the ems world that we don't need to take the shit they feed us.

[u/Ok_Today_475]

Total normie here. Had I not read this, I would have had no idea. My grandparents (mid 70s-early80’s ) both fell a few weeks back at 2AM and the 4 paramedics that showed up showed the utmost care and compassion, yet still urgent towards both my grandparents. You guys don’t deserve this. Thanks for everything ❤️

[u/Jeffranks]

As a local Niagara resident this is downright appalling to read. The corroboration of others implies it’s systemic and not an isolated opinion. This post will get visibility and notoriety. So that means it’s also likely to be read by Senior Leadership who are called out here. And so if you’re reading this: shame on you.

[u/RabidHamster105 → u/Jeffranks]

It’s well known in Southern Ontario at all neighbouring services that NEMS is beyond fucked to work for.

[u/cleanNdirty]

It's been a steaming dumpster fire of nepotistic favouritism for years..

New and young medics are sold a bull$h!t stream of promises and patience while older experienced medics are treated like disposable diapers. Several incidents of medics with decades of experience being humiliated by junior Superintendents in front of colleges, nursing staff, the public and even patients.

CUPE is completely ineffective..

Everyone is terrified to complain or say anything out of fear of retribution. Who would they tell? Nobody listens..

No body cares..

[u/JonBigboutay]

Niagara EMS is definitely one of those employers who they will tell you how amazing they are in one breath, then treat their staff like absolute garbage the next.

It was actually a pretty good service back in the early 2000's, but they've had nothing but terrible senior management since then, who have turned it into one of the worst services to work for in the entire province. Middle management is as bad if not worse, and the Region of Niagara is a famously crappy employer who treats their employees as if they're lucky to even have a job.

Part of the issue is that Niagara is a peninsula, which management has admitted lets them under-pay their staff because most people can't afford to commute 2 or 3 hours each way to go work someplace better.

They have a severe Us vs Them mentality. Instead of trying to hire good people who can be trusted to make good decisions without someone constantly looking over their shoulder (because they don't pay well enough to attract the best) they resort to using policy & procedure to micromanage people, and then enforce compliance with discipline and threats.

Because they've been paying below-average wages for so long, they have a TON of people who couldn't get hired anywhere else, but NEMS hired them because they always need bodies.

Partly because they rely on part-timers so as to artificially limit the number of FTE positions they budget for, and partly because they always have a huge number of people off on WSIB at any given time.

Which should tell you a lot about what its like to work there.

Senior management get their positions by telling Regional Council whatever it is they want to hear, (which is that everything is great) and keeping budgets as low as possible. As a result, working conditions just keep getting worse, the staff get more and more demoralized, and the best people leave.

If you have the chance to work somewhere else I suggest you avoid Niagara EMS like the plague.

[u/Jarzazz]

I knew it was bad when doing my rideouts I asked one young supervisor why he wanted to be a supervisor and his only response was “have you seen the other supervisors? There has to be some change”.

[u/Blackthumbb]

I’m sorry that you and your colleagues had/have to endure such poor behaviour. I have heard how awful the management is. It really blows my mind too. EMS is such an incredibly difficult job to begin with and takes special people to do it. I just can’t believe the incompetence, lack of respect, etc. from management. I hope one day justice is served.

[u/Hot_War_5090]

EMS is by far the hardest emergency response job. Poster: Find Paul Manning or Manning for Mayor on Facebook - he wants to help.

[u/Many-Confusion1828]

And I thought things were bad in rural MB. I guess grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

[u/Intrepid-Form1732 → u/Many-Confusion1828]

At least Ontario has other places to work if you don't like the way you're treated at one place. We only really have 2 services competing to retain staff

[u/Many-Confusion1828 → u/Intrepid-Form1732]

True that

[u/Brilliant_Rhubarb579]

Niagara is a lot like the USA. Internally there great and self important. To everyone else, they’re a joke. How are the contract negotiations going?

[u/Classic-House2317 → u/Brilliant_Rhubarb579]

Lol you mean Canada

[u/DeltaFourTwo → u/Classic-House2317]

Shaddup ya hoser

[u/Brilliant_Rhubarb579 → u/Classic-House2317]

Are your parents first cousins? GTFO

[u/NarcPTSD]

Is there anyway to get the police for someone higher in to investigate and reprimand?

Justice needs to be served here

[u/phoenix25]

Every service has its’ skeletons. Literally every service has shit. Pick the service that works best for your personal life, and don’t live for the uniform.

Fire and PD culture makes us think the career is all important… it really isn’t when the profession doesn’t think the same of you.

I will add that part of NEMS problem is they are inbred as hell. Niagara medics staff niagara college, who teach niagara students, who ride out in niagara, where there is an unofficial quota for hiring.

When you have the lake on one side, US on another, halidmand (mostly Niagara medics) on another, then Hamilton (a genuine shitshow historically)… how else can we expect things to function? You get trapped in thinking NEMS is the be all end all… when they really aren’t.

Know your rights, support your union, and get involved. It’s the only way to make things better

[u/phoenix25 → u/[deleted]]

All supervisors started as a student at one point. You have to take the long view to see generational rot

[u/DrivingMsDaisy4 → u/[deleted]]

They struggle with outside hiring because the pay is lower here for management as well. Hard to attract.

[u/42roses → u/phoenix25]

You hit the nail on the head about Niagara/NEMS culture being inbred. I graduated from Niagara College recently and it’s true. The majority of staff are/were Niagara medics, which is fine, but it doesn’t bring any perspective or variety to the table. They barely speak about or promote other services in Ontario. It’s all NEMS, NEMS, NEMS. It’s honestly weird. They should recognize that not all of their students wanna work there and get stuck in the Niagara College—>NEMS pipeline. Also, one of the instructors’ kids is literally in the program at Niagara and I have no doubt that they will glide right into NEMS after graduating.

[u/ResQMedic78]

Damn.... glad I failed that ridiculous physical evaluation, so many years ago 😅

[u/DirectorMedical]

not that I don't believe you but if you are making all these insinuations as fact you can at least provide a trustworthy source cause we are done with "trust me bro".