County sends ambulance up north
By Richard Blanchard

The efforts of an South Simcoe police officer have ensured that an ambulance from South Simcoe will heading to a First Nations community north of Thunder Bay.

Alliston resident David Oliver, who served as a police officer in the community of Kingfisher Lake, was the impetus which lead to the transfer of the vehicle last week to the community. Simcoe county warden Tony Guergis handed over the keys for the vehicle to Oliver. The vehicle will be transported by Manitoulin Transportation to Thunder Bay and then driven over an ice road in January to Kingfisher Lake.

Kingfisher Lake, an aboriginal community of 470 people, is located over 300 miles north of Thunder Bay and is not serviced by regular roads. OIiver said after the transfer of the keys that he was aware of the need for the ambulance during his time in the community.

"Community residents who are ill have had to be transported by pickup truck to the nursing station there," he said.

Oliver also helped the community obtain a used fire truck last year. A new ambulance costs over $100,000 and the county was approached earlier this year by Oliver to send a used ambulance to the community. County council agreed and a number of local businesses volunteered their efforts to put the ambulance in good repair.

Simcoe county paramedics filled the ambulance with a variety of medical supplies and began their Christmas toy drive by filling the community with toys for thechildren of the community. Paramedics across the county saw fit to start their food drive early.