Keeping British Columbians Safe, Connected & Prepared
THE COMMUNITY REPORT
St. John Ambulance: Canada’s leading first aid charity
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
A Message from Brendan L’Heureux, Interim CEO
From community celebrations and summer festivals to emergency response and preparedness, St. John Ambulance is showing up when it matters most.
This summer has been a wonderful reminder that building safer communities is about more than responding when something goes wrong. It is about being present, building relationships, educating, supporting our neighbours and ensuring that people know they can count on St. John Ambulance when they need us.
Here are a few of the ways SJA has been out in the community this summer.
THE COMMUNITY REPORT
Out in the Community: Summer 2026
From major regional exhibitions to neighbourhood gatherings, SJA first aid posts provided on-site care and peace of mind across the Lower Mainland and beyond.
Queen Elizabeth Park Community BBQ (Vancouver): On August 9, our team joined MP Taleeb Noormohamed and local families for an afternoon of games, food, and community connection. Our interactive safety booth and plush Therapy Dogs were a major hit with young attendees, while our responders were on hand to provide medical support.
Abbotsford International Airshow: Decades of soaring thrills, thousands of attendees, and an extraordinary milestone: zero spectator fatalities across the entire history of the Abbotsford International Airshow. That is an achievement worth celebrating! It’s one of B.C.’s largest open-air spectacles, and this summer SJA teams again maintained mobile response units and first aid posts throughout the grounds, ensuring rapid care amidst heavy crowds and summer heat.
C. Dumpling Festival (Coquitlam) & Heritage Family Farm Day (Richmond): Our volunteer crew engaged with hundreds of festival-goers, providing basic first aid coverage and a friendly, familiar face of safety for one of the most delicious events in B.C.
Upcoming Event:
End of Summer Picnic (Langley–Cloverdale): Join our team on September 5 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Langley City Park for the community picnic hosted by MP Tamara Jansen. Come say hello to our responders and learn more about our local initiatives.
Planning a Community Event?
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
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THE COMMUNITY REPORT
Leadership in Action: Welcoming Brigade Commissioner David Hodgins
Effective August 29, 2026, St. John Ambulance B.C. & Yukon welcomes David Hodgins, KStJ, as our new Brigade Commissioner. David brings over three decades of distinguished leadership across public safety, disaster management, and community service, alongside a deep commitment to supporting our frontline volunteers.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Frederick Yim for his exceptional leadership as Brigade Commissioner since 2023. As he transitions to the role of Past Commissioner, Frederick will continue to contribute his insight and guidance to the organization.
Please join us in thanking Frederick and welcoming David to his new post.
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
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THE COMMUNITY REPORT
Stories from the Field
Kamloops Therapy Dogs Earn RCMP Honour
When it comes to spreading joy and easing stress, our St. John Ambulance therapy dogs are true professionals! This past spring, the incredible impact of our four-legged friends was celebrated at the Kamloops RCMP’s annual Awards Ceremony. The event, which honours community heroes for acts of bravery, rescue, and investigative excellence, shone a special spotlight on the wagging tails that bring comfort to those who serve.
Since 2021, our dedicated volunteer handlers and their pups have been making weekly visits to the Kamloops detachment, offering a much-needed mental health break for municipal employees and RCMP officers. Recognizing this vital support, the RCMP proudly awarded the prestigious Detachment Commander’s Certificate of Appreciation to 10 of our amazing Therapy Dog teams! The beautiful certificate perfectly described our volunteers not just as dog handlers, but as “facilitators of empathy, healing, and emotional connection” within the high-pressure policing environment.
We are bursting with pride and want to send a massive, heartfelt thank you to all our St. John Ambulance therapy dog teams for the selfless work they do every single week. It’s because of the ongoing support from our students, generous donors, and business partners that we can keep these vital community initiatives running. Every time you register for a first aid course or make a contribution, you are helping these wonderful dogs continue their incredible mission of care and comfort!
Calm in the Midst of Crisis
A dispatch on quick thinking, responder resilience, and animal intuition from SJA volunteer Mary Loblaw.
While providing medical coverage at a recent rodeo, SJA volunteer Mary Loblaw was called into action when a rider fell unexpectedly from his horse. Initial concerns pointed to severe trauma or a spinal injury.
Working alongside an off-duty trauma nurse who was riding in the event, Mary helped stabilize the scene and coordinate emergency transport for advanced medical assessment. The hospital later confirmed that the rider had suffered a medical seizure rather than physical impact trauma, and that he was on the road to recovery.
The story revealed another extraordinary detail. Upon reviewing video footage of the incident, the team noticed that as the seizure began, the horse instinctively slowed, lay down, and rolled away to place the rider safely onto the soft dirt without crushing him, before calmly standing back up.
For Mary, the day highlighted both the unpredictable nature of emergency response and the emotional weight carried by first responders: “You stay focused and calm for the patient and the people around you, even when your adrenaline is surging. Knowing our team was there to step in, and hearing later that the rider was doing well reminds me why the work we do at St. John Ambulance matters so deeply.”
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
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THE COMMUNITY REPORT
Wildfire Season: Prepare, Respond, Support
Wildfire activity and air quality advisories remain critical concerns across British Columbia. While emergencies cannot always be anticipated, personal and community readiness make a measurable difference.
- Build a Grab-and-Go Kit: Keep essential first aid supplies, critical medications, copies of important documents, and N95 masks easily accessible. Click here to start your own grab-and-go kit.|
- Stay Informed: Follow local emergency management updates and evacuation alerts from municipal and regional authorities.
- Learn First Aid: Basic life-saving skills allow you to act effectively when professional medical services may be delayed by regional emergencies. Click here to find a first aid class.
- Help Your Community Be Ready: Your gift helps equip St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon volunteers and responders with the training, supplies, and resources they need to support communities during emergencies. Click here to give today and help us be ready when British Columbians need us most.
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
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THE COMMUNITY REPORT
Looking Ahead
On October 2, 2026, St. John Ambulance will gather for a significant milestone in our vice-regal heritage as Her Honour, The Honourable Wendy Cocchia, C.M., O.B.C., LL.D. (Hon), Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, is formally invested as Dame of Justice and installed as Vice-Prior of the Order of St. John.
While many know St. John Ambulance for first aid courses and community event response, we operate as the charitable foundation of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, an ancient royal order of chivalry with His Majesty King Charles III as its Sovereign Head. Under Canadian vice-regal tradition, the Governor General serves as Prior of the Priory of Canada, while provincial Lieutenant Governors serve as Vice-Priors within their respective provinces.
A Historic Occasion: Investiture & Installation of the Lieutenant Governor of B.C.
What This Vice-Regal Partnership Means for British Columbians
Beyond ceremonial tradition, the Lieutenant Governor’s leadership plays a direct and meaningful role in recognizing everyday heroes and dedicated volunteers across our province:
- Conferring Lifesaving Awards: As the King’s representative in B.C., the Lieutenant Governor presides over vice-regal presentations honouring everyday citizens and trained responders who have performed heroic, life-saving acts during critical emergencies.
- Celebrating Lifelong Volunteerism: Through formal investitures and provincial award ceremonies, the Lieutenant Governor officially recognizes long-serving SJA volunteers, cadets, and community leaders for decades of selfless service to British Columbians.
- Championing Community Resilience: The Vice-Prior’s active patronage shines a public spotlight on the critical importance of public first aid training, disaster preparedness, and compassionate community care.
This investiture celebrates over a century of vice-regal partnership and reaffirms our shared commitment to community health, safety, and service throughout British Columbia and the Yukon.
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
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THE COMMUNITY REPORT
This Month in SJA History: August 1911
Just three months after the establishment of the first St. John Ambulance Association committee in Victoria, SJA launched its first public first aid classes in August 1911. By November of that year, 36 members of the Victoria Police Department and 11 members of the public had completed their certifications. 115 years later, that foundational mission continues: providing British Columbians and Yukoners with the skills and confidence to save lives.
Be Part of the Mission
Every training registration, volunteer hour, and community partnership strengthens our collective ability to care for one another.
- Learn Life-Saving Skills: Register for workplace or standard first aid, CPR, and Opioid Poisoning Response Training.
- Volunteer Your Time: Join our Community Service teams, Medical First Response Brigade, or Therapy Dog Program.
- Partner With Us: Collaborate through corporate training programs, foundation grants, or event sponsorships.
- Support Our Programs: Help fund essential medical equipment, youth cadet development, and community outreach.
Choose a way to support:
LEARN
VOLUNTEER
GIVE
Support our community programs
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
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THE COMMUNITY REPORT
Thank You to Our Community Partners
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of our corporate and foundation partners, including the 8:15 Foundation and Beedie alongside our dedicated volunteers, instructors, and donors. Your investment directly equips responders and protects communities across B.C. and the Yukon.
St. John Ambulance British Columbia & Yukon
115 Years of Service. Dedicated to Community Health & Safety.
August 2026 | British Columbia & Yukon
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