TORONTO AMBULANCE SERVICE
Title
TORONTO AMBULANCE SERVICE
Description
In 1832, the first organized ambulance service in Toronto began. Its purpose was to transport victims of the cholera epidemic. For nearly 200 years, Toronto’s ambulance service has been managed by the City, hospitals, private contractors, provincial government, and even funeral homes.
In 1888, the Toronto Police Ambulance Service was officially formed. The police service operated four horse-drawn ambulances. Starting in 1913, it began to replace them with motor vehicles. In 1933, the municipal Department of Public Health took control of the service.
Until the 1960s, Ontario’s various ambulance systems faced a number of issues: no central 911 dispatch, a lack of organized training for medics, and long wait times after calling for assistance. In 1974, after a number of incidents involving the deaths of children and lengthy ambulance response times, the province made the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto responsible for all ambulance services in its jurisdiction. In February 1975, the Department of Ambulance Services was formed.
In 1998, the department was absorbed by the newly amalgamated City of Toronto. In 2014, it became the Toronto Paramedic Services. By 2021, this service was responding to nearly 380,000 annual calls.
In 1888, the Toronto Police Ambulance Service was officially formed. The police service operated four horse-drawn ambulances. Starting in 1913, it began to replace them with motor vehicles. In 1933, the municipal Department of Public Health took control of the service.
Until the 1960s, Ontario’s various ambulance systems faced a number of issues: no central 911 dispatch, a lack of organized training for medics, and long wait times after calling for assistance. In 1974, after a number of incidents involving the deaths of children and lengthy ambulance response times, the province made the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto responsible for all ambulance services in its jurisdiction. In February 1975, the Department of Ambulance Services was formed.
In 1998, the department was absorbed by the newly amalgamated City of Toronto. In 2014, it became the Toronto Paramedic Services. By 2021, this service was responding to nearly 380,000 annual calls.
Creator
Sarah J. McCabe
Date
April 17, 2023
Files
Collection
Citation
Sarah J. McCabe, “TORONTO AMBULANCE SERVICE,” Historic Plaques of Ontario: An Omeka Demo Site, accessed April 28, 2024, https://ontarioplaques.omeka.net/items/show/721.