Much has changed over the past 25 years in the work of a paramedic, Derek Dagenais says.

"It's been exponential. We've gone from .. a ride to the hospital to true paramedics that treat patients, do a lot of the same treatments that are done in the emergency departments."

Not only can paramedics now use more treatments and medicines, they can perform their full scope of practice within people's homes, he said. They also help out in the Humboldt emergency department during the evening.  

Dagenais received an award for 25 years of service as a paramedic at an emergency services awards gala with the Humboldt Fire Department and RCMP on Saturday at the Uniplex.

The work is rewarding and a paramedic never knows what each day will bring, he said.

"Even something like the snow storm, as much as that's a hassle to get to calls, it sure makes things more interesting. Paramedics tend to be people that like adverse situations."

Rebecca Atkin received a five-year paramedic service award; Mandy Gerspacher a 10-year award; and Amanda Zelle a 15-year award.

The Humboldt Fire Department, meanwhile, couldn't pick one person to receive its Firefighter of the Year award - so it picked two.

Jordan Dalsin and Matt Nelson teamed up to organize an extra night of training each week to improve physical fitness, Chief Mike Kwasnica said.

"They've been pretty much working together all year round to do this so it was hard to narrow it down to one of them."

Firefighter Tim Kiefer received a 10-year service award, while Paul Catacutan and Braeden Campbell received five-year awards.

The gala is a night for firefighters, paramedics and police to spend time together and enjoy themselves, Kwasnica said.

"It's doesn't happen everywhere that emergency services get along, and it helps Humboldt build that bond between the three agencies and it helps us do our professional jobs a lot better."