Gull Lake Ambulance — From Station Wagons to Modern EMS
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Before Gull Lake had a formal ambulance service, emergencies were handled by neighbours using trucks and station wagons. When time allowed, Swift Current’s ambulance made the trip west.
That changed in 1975, when the Town of Gull Lake purchased its first dedicated ambulance — a used 1968 Dodge station wagon with a raised roof, bought from the Swift Current Union Hospital. Volunteers stepped forward as drivers and attendants, forming the backbone of a true community‑run service.
By 1977, provincial standards had evolved, and the Dodge could no longer meet requirements. A new 1979 GMC Suburban High‑Rise was ordered from Crestline Coach in Saskatoon. It became the town’s frontline unit and was still in service when the first Gull Lake Memories history book was published—though it has long since been retired.
Until 1985, the ambulance was operated by the Town under contract to the Gull Lake Ambulance Board and was entirely volunteer‑run. In 1985, the service transitioned to the Gull Lake Union Hospital Board, marking the shift from a town-managed system to a community-governed one.
Training and Transition
Through the late 1980s, Saskatchewan introduced a provincial training program for ambulance attendants — a major step forward in licensing and professional standards. Volunteers began formal training, raising the level of care and responsibility.
By 1993, regional health restructuring created concern that Gull Lake might lose its ambulance service. The Town joined forces with surrounding municipalities—the RMs of Gull Lake, Carmichael, Pittville, and Webb, along with the Villages of Carmichael and Tompkins—to form what became the Gull Lake and District Road Ambulance Corporation, ensuring local control during a period of uncertainty.
In 1994, ownership officially transferred to the Corporation. The service covered roughly 3,575 square kilometers, serving about 2,200 people from Webb to Sidewood and south to Highway 37.
Leadership and Staffing Evolution
In the early years, leadership was informal and volunteer‑driven. Cam Lock is remembered as one of the service’s first de facto managers—a volunteer who helped keep the operation running when the system relied entirely on local commitment.
By the mid‑1980s, volunteer numbers had dropped to only a few. Before the Town handed the ambulance over to the Hospital Board, discussions were held—including the possibility of contracting the service to Swift Current Ambulance. The turning point came when Jim Kalinowski convinced me and others to step up and volunteer, ensuring the service remained local.
When the Gull Lake Union Hospital Board assumed responsibility in 1985, the service entered a new era. Sid Lowe became the first paid manager, supported by paid volunteers who received $15 per day for standby and $15 per hour while on a call.
In September 1987, I took over the manager’s position from Sid, guiding the service through modernization, training changes, and the transition toward a more structured EMS model.
A major milestone came in 2005, when Dave Waiser became the first full‑time second staff member. In the years that followed, the service continued to evolve with improvements in training, equipment, and operations as provincial standards changed. After my retirement in April 2017, Dave stepped into the manager’s role—a position he continues to hold.
Across every era, the service relied on many volunteers and workers whose contributions, large and small, kept the ambulance running. Each of them deserves thanks.
Moments That Defined the Service
The Webb Crash
Gull Lake’s ambulance was the first on scene at one of Saskatchewan’s worst highway accidents — the crash near Webb that claimed 22 lives.
The 23‑Hour Blizzard Transfer
In 1978, during a fierce blizzard, a patient transfer to Swift Current took 23 hours. The ambulance left Tuesday afternoon, escorted by two snowplows and a police car, returning Wednesday afternoon—a testament to determination and care.
A Closing Reflection
Just as the people who served this community cared deeply for those they helped, the community also stood behind and supported the people who answered the call. I always carried a strong sense of pride in serving the residents of this area — a pride I know continues in the service today.
Historical details supported by Gull Lake Memories (1978) and Centennial Chronicles: Gull Lake – 100 Years of Progress (2005).
From borrowed station wagons to blizzard convoys, from volunteers on call at all hours to a trained rural EMS team—the story of Gull Lake’s ambulance is the story of a community that refuses to leave its people behind.
— Blake Campbell
Former Manager, Gull Lake Ambulance Service (1987–2017)
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