GoGreen is taking place in Shaunavon SK on Sept. 19th, 2025!! Join The Town of Shaunavon and Stark & Marsh for a day of beautification projects To participate in the GoGreen event, we kindly ask all...
The Southwest Regional Ambulance Committee — comprised of the Towns of Shaunavon and Town of Eastend , along with RMs White Valley No. 49, Grassy Creek No. 78, Arlington No. 79, and RM of Bone Creek No. 108 , is proud to announce the official launch of a new incentive program aimed at recruiting and retaining Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals in the region.
The EMS Career Incentives Program offers up to $20,000 in recruitment funding for licensed Primary and Advanced Care Paramedics, bursaries for high school students, and financial support for those interested in becoming Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs), including training coverage through the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
“This is about coming together as a region to address the urgent need for stable, sustainable EMS services in rural Saskatchewan,” said Donald Lundberg, Reeve of RM of Arlington No 79.
The program is a direct response to staffing challenges across the region and reflects strong inter-municipal collaboration and community investment in frontline healthcare.
In May 2025, the local officials and the Southwest Regional Ambulance Committee welcomed Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health Lori Carr to Shaunavon to hear firsthand from SHA staff about current service gaps and challenges in local emergency care. The visit included leadership from SHA and a strong showing of municipal cooperation further reinforcing the need for strategic rural health recruitment.
As a result of continued advocacy, the committee has developed this community-driven incentive package to attract qualified EMS and EMR professionals—and support those who want to pursue that path locally.
Incentive and Bursary Highlights:
$20,000 Recruitment Bursaries for new Primary or Advanced Care Paramedics (PCP/ACP) committing to work in Shaunavon and/or Eastend for three years.
5 x $2,000 High School Student Bursaries for those accepted into an approved EMS program.
EMR Training Bursary - $1,000 + Full SHA Support: SHA covers training/enrollment costs (~$650 value) and SHA bursary of $2,000 will be provided for successful bursary applicants taking an approved EMR training program from the SHA. The SHA does not charge bursary recipients for EMR Training.
Return of Service Agreements to Shaunavon or Eastend ensures participants contribute to rural healthcare while receiving support.
To make the transition easy, The Town of Eastend and the RM of White Valley No. 49 are offering a rent-free three-bedroom home in Eastend. Utilities are included and the taxable benefit is covered.
Full program details, eligibility, and downloadable application forms are available online at:
This initiative is one more way the Southwest region is stepping up to build resilient health systems and ensure quality emergency care is available when residents need it most.