Three Grey County Paramedic Services members were honoured with Medical Directors’ Commendation Awards at a Grey County Council meeting in Owen Sound on May 28, 2026. Paramedics Jeff Thomas, Evan Kraayenbrink, and Mark Urquhart received the awards from the Southwest Ontario Regional Base Hospital Program for outstanding care and leadership.
Jeff Thomas and Evan Kraayenbrink each received the Award of Excellence for their exceptional teamwork during a tough call at a rural hospital. They spent more than two hours helping staff resuscitate patients and then stayed even longer when six more critically ill people arrived, stretching the team’s resources.
“They stayed at the hospital with medical staff for over two hours resuscitating a patient, and even longer when six more patients arrived, overwhelming the resources. That is exceptional teamwork and exceptional paramedicine,” said Dr. Sunil Mehta, Local Medical Director for Bruce and Grey Counties with the Southwest Ontario Regional Base Hospital Program, who presented the awards.
Mark Urquhart received the Award for Professional Contribution for his work in mentorship and education. “Mark’s leadership and commitment to mentorship have made a lasting impact locally and across the province,” said Kevin McNab, Director of Paramedic Services. Urquhart was previously honoured with the Award of Excellence in 2019, showing his ongoing commitment to his peers and patients.
Kevin McNab said he is incredibly proud of all three. “I want to congratulate Mark, Jeff, and Evan on this well-deserved recognition. I’m incredibly proud of all three recipients and grateful for the compassion and expertise they bring to our community every day,” McNab said.
Grey County paramedics serve one of Ontario’s largest geographic areas, covering about 4,513 square kilometres with more than 100,000 residents. In 2024, they responded to more than 30,931 calls for service.
