For former Lucknowite Liz Black-Brown receiving the Huron County Warden’s Emergency Services of the Year Award is both humbling and an honour. Black-Brown is in her 26th year as a paramedic for Huron County and will receive the award at Huron County council chambers on Oct. 3.
Black-Brown who was nominated by her supervisor Mark Crawford for work done above and beyond what she does as a paramedic and what she does in the community.
Black-Brown said she was shocked when she found out she would be receiving the award because she feels she is just doing her job, but said it’s great for the paramedic profession to be in the limelight.
“It’s an honour to be getting this award because I think we as paramedics don’t get thanked a lot and that’s mainly because when we do get called out, it’s because something is wrong,” said Black-Brown. “I think this type of recognition puts us a little more in the forefront of the important job we do day in and day out.”
One of the major reasons Black-Brown was nominated for this award other than her being a paramedic is the hard work she does for the local organizations she volunteers for.
One of those organizations is the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund, which donates defibrillator machines on behalf of firefighter, paramedics, police officer, military men and women, etc., to the place of their choosing. Black-Brown says they donate to schools, arenas, churches, etc.
“I think one of the big reasons I’m receiving this award is because of the work I do outside of my job, more specifically with the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund,” said Black-Brown. “Dave Mounsey was a Huron OPP officer and a Blyth firefighter as well as my friend. He was in a bad accident in 2006 while on duty and past away six weeks later. His friend Patrick Armstrong started this foundation and I’m on the board.”
Black-Brown also does volunteer work for Ladies Auxiliary at the Goderich Legion Branch 109 as well as being involved with the Coldwell Banker Charity Fun, which helps people who they give support and money to families dealing with sickness.
Black-Brown said her family is excited and proud of her and give her all the support in the world. She said she is honoured to be receiving this award as it compares to the Exemplary Service medal she was awarded with last year.
“Receiving this award is as exciting as getting the Exemplary Medal of Service last year in Collingwood for my years of service as a paramedic,” said Black-Brown. “It was great to be in a room of all my peers and receive an award from the office of the Governor-General.
Also being honoured is the late North Huron Fire Chief, John Black, who will posthumously be honoured with Firefighter of the Year. There were no nominations for Police Officer of the Year.
Read more here:Former Lucknowite to be honoured with Paramedic of the Year Award – Lucknow Sentinel.
