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Paramedic bids farewell after 35 years of service
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
By Ron Giofu An Essex-Windsor EMS paramedic based out of the Amherstburg station has signed off for the last time. Gerry Hedges retired last Thursday evening with that day’s shift being the final one of his 35 year career. Hedges spent the last three years of his career in Amherstburg and also served in Harrow, Windsor and Kingsville with his 27 years in Windsor being his longest stop. “It doesn’t feel real yet,” said Hedges. While his retirement has been in the works for a while, Hedges said “it seems like it’s here all of a sudden.” He admitted he felt somewhat guilty retiring during the COVID-19 pandemic but pointed out his retirement date has been set for over a year. “You are always learning,” he said of his career as a paramedic. “Even up to the last day, you are still learning different things. You get to meet a lot of interesting things.” Hedges believes one of the most interesting people he ever met on the job was a man he was helping transfer from a hospital to a nursing home. The man, then in his 80’s, was a survivor of the Titanic shipwreck. Other memorable calls included the huge and deadly crash on Highway 401 in 1999. “That was a big one,” he recalled. While Hedges had to go to serious and tragic calls like that, he also helped bring life into the world as well.
RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU
Essex-Windsor EMS paramedic Gerry Hedges has retired after 35 years of service. His retirement was celebrated after his final shift last Thursday at the Amherstburg ambulance base. “I’ve delivered two babies all by myself when I was in the first response unit,” he said. Hedges hopes to travel when it is finally safe to do so, as he wants to visit family and head to South Carolina. “Hopefully we can get out on the lake and get some fishing in,” he added. The Amherstburg community is a close-knit one, Hedges believes, and that people are generally grateful.
“I find the people of Amherstburg are very appreciative of what you do for them,” said Hedges. “If feels nice to have members of the community call you when there is a problem and you can help out.” Hedges will also spend more time with family, including wife Cathie and his adult children Andrew and Lauren. Looking back, he is proud of the career he has had. “It’s been a very interesting and exciting career,” said Hedges.
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