The Path of Public Service

Part 2 digs into the grind behind a “normal” 12-hour shift and the strain that chronic understaffing creates for both dispatch and crews. Communications Officer, Marie Larocque describes the dispatch “chess game” of moving ambulances to protect lunch breaks, often unsuccessfully, and the moral injury of holding exhausted paramedics on mandatory overtime. She also recounts a ride-along on the orange air ambulance, including a dramatic hospital transfer and being left behind due to weather. And Paramedic, Norm Robillard, reflects on the high standards emergency response personnel hold themselves to, learning from tough calls, and not “keeping score” on outcomes. Both critique offload delays and primary-care gaps, while stressing: if you’re truly sick, call 911. 

[00:01:50] The lunch issue

[00:04:10] Overtime and moral injury

[00:05:29] Paramedics and Communications Officers relationship

[00:07:29] Marie’s ride-along adventure

[00:10:10] The hard side of the work

[00:14:11] Offload delay

[00:16:48] Community band-aids

[00:19:05] If you need help, call

Disclaimer:

Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

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In part 1 of this candid conversation, host Katie Jensen sits down with Marie LaRocque, a paramedic communications officer, and Norm Robillard, a former advanced care paramedic, to go behind the scenes of Ontario’s 911 and ambulance system. They reflect on dispatching emergencies across Eastern Ontario with minimal staff, evolving technology, and the relentless multitasking required on the radios. From dark humor and tough calls to rare “saves” and delivering babies, they share what keeps them going, and what wears people down. The episode puts listeners in the shoes of the voices on the line and the paramedics on the scene. 

[00:05:36] How Marie became a Communications Officer

[00:07:52] The evolution of the dispatching system

[00:11:18] How Norm became a Paramedic

[00:13:32] Bilingualism in EMS

[00:16:28] EMS in the 90s

[00:18:59] What is a good call?

[00:21:03] How many paramedics make it to retirement?

[00:21:49] The intense multitasking dispatch

[00:23:33] Healthcare gap stories

Disclaimer:

Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part 2 of Path of Public Service, host Katie Jensen continues her conversation with Matthew‑Ray “Testament” Jones, Ontario’s second Poet Laureate. In this continued conversation, Jones reflects on his “why not me” mindset, the role of recognition in public service, and how poetry creates space for healing, connection, and expression across communities. He discusses his work with educators, seniors, survivors, and artists, highlighting how storytelling fosters empathy and collective resilience. The closing of this episode also explores his growing impact through Applaud partnerships, arts advocacy in Mississauga, and his forthcoming poetry collection. The conversation culminates in a powerful spoken-word performance inspired by his volunteering experience in the Philippines, underscoring art’s ability to honor unseen lives and inspire action.
Disclaimer:
Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part One of this episode, host Katie Jensen speaks with Ontario’s second Poet Laureate, Matthew‑Ray “Testament” Jones, a spoken‑word artist, educator, and community leader. Matthew shares how poetry and storytelling became a lifeline through childhood adversity, racism, and a non‑linear educational journey. And he traces his evolution from a young poet and hip‑hop artist to a respected cultural leader, educator, and father. Rooted in Jamaican heritage and Black history, his story emphasizes the power of language, creativity, and lived experience to shape identity, foster resilience, and inspire social change. 
Disclaimer:
Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

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In Part Two of our conversation with longtime Ontario public servant Barb Simmons, she takes us back to her early days of computing in the  Ontario Public Service (OPS) that included reel-to-reel backups, sneakernets, and the thrill of a first PalmPilot. Barb reflects further on her early career in apprenticeship and training policy, the high-pressure moments that shaped her ethics, and the hard-won lessons she worked to pass forward in mentorship. We explore her 23-role career path, the unmatched mobility within the OPS, and the realities of navigating crises. Barb also shares proud milestones, from leading major federal–provincial integrations, to supporting Indigenous women’s leadership, and her late-career mentoring work to make the OPS more inclusive for neurodivergent staff.
Disclaimer:
Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.