Davidson

Schmit earns Stars of Life honour

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) James Schmit has been honoured with a Stars of Life Award for his outstanding achievement, exemplary service and commitment to Emergency Medical Services.

“It was quite a surprise to me,” said Schmit, noting he received a letter from Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association president Steve Skoworodko informing him he won the award only two weeks before the presentation. “I think there was eight or nine of these awarded in the province this year. There is (only) one of these awards in the Heartland Health Region and I received it.”

Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield presented Schmit with the glass sculpture award at Government House in Regina on June 19. He has been an EMR with the Davidson EMS (Emergency Medical Services) for the past 11 years.

As a responder, Schmit has provided pre-hospital emergency care to citizens in need from Chamberlain in the south to a couple miles north of Kenaston as well as from Lake Diefenbaker in the west to halfway between Davidson and Imperial to the east.

Davidson EMS coordinator Adrian Schmiedge nominated Schmit for the award because of his passionate dedication to the service. He said the Davidson EMS would not be what it is today without Schmit’s involvement.

“These awards get sent out for people who have done extra, have done a lot of work for their community, and I nominated him because he has done so much work for EMS,” said Schmiedge. “He has always been available when we need him. He has another job (at C & M Motors) he has to worry about, but he still makes time to be on-call for us when we need him which is very often.”

Schmit describes his job as an EMR as a cross between “intense boredom and sheer terror,” but he is proud to do it because it gives him another opportunity to help those who might need it.

“I’ve always volunteered within the community,” he said. “I’ve been with the fire department here for 33 years. This is something that the community needs and I believe in the community and in small towns.”