Our Stories

Graduates of the Tracadie program have a high rate of success in getting licensed to practice as paramedics and finding work immediately, with 96% obtaining their license the first time they attempt it ― the same percentage that are hired on their first job application.

“I truly believe it’s because of the amazing teaching team we have here. All of our Tracadie Campus instructors are former students of the Medavie HealthEd PCP program and are devoted to the success of every individual student and of our school.”

However, the first step in their career path is getting accepted into Isabelle’s class, Medavie HealthEd has an application process that includes an interview at the campus with her. She interviews all applicants to the Tracadie program to ensure they have what it takes to do this life-changing and life-saving line of work.

One of the questions she always asks is why they want to be a paramedic.

“The answer I want to hear is ‘I want to help. I want to make a difference. I want to have a job that’s not the same every day. I want to evolve as a person. I want to be part of something bigger.’ Those are all things that we’re looking for. Because it takes someone special person to become a paramedic.”
 

Once Isabelle answered the call as a paramedic, she never looked back.

“As soon as I opened my first book, I knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do. It kind of found me. I don’t think I found it. It found me.”

Her sister also became a paramedic, and the two worked together many times. She proudly notes that, on average, more than 55% of the students in her class and 43% of all Ambulance New Brunswick paramedics are female in what had been a predominantly male occupation when she began.

Originally from Tracadie, Isabelle started her career with the Canadian Red Cross Ambulance Services in Neguac in 1996. In 2000 she moved to Shippagan and worked for Les Ambulances de la Péninsule Inc., which included the Shippagan/Lamèque, Caraquet and Tracadie Ambulance services.

She worked there for 12 years in different roles in paramedicine, management, quality control and education. When Ambulance New Brunswick assumed administration of all services in the province in 2007, she came back to her hometown and returned to her role as an instructor.

Isabelle says that the most rewarding part of being a paramedic is making a difference in someone’s life. “The first time you save a life you’re never going to forget it. You can’t put words on what that means. And it’s not always the big calls that makes a mark on you,” she adds.

“Sometimes on long distance transfers you have long and meaningful conversations with your patient and it stays with you. Someone who is fighting for their life will teach you valuable life lessons on things we sometimes take for granted.”

With the increasing demands of the health care system, providing quality education is important. While this moves her away from the frontlines she is able to bring her experience and knowledge to the classroom to better prepare the students

“Honestly, I sometimes miss the calls, but every time I walk into this building and I see my students, I know that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Teaching is the thing that makes me really, really fulfilled and happy.”