File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Paramedic Assaulted

Paramedic assaulted while filling ambulance at North Shore gas station

Oct 27, 2025 | 11:45 AM

KAMLOOPS — (UPDATE Oct. 28, 6:00 a.m.): BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) says it is grateful to bystanders who rushed to help after a paramedic was assaulted at a gas station in North Kamloops on Sunday (Oct. 26) evening.

In a statement to CFJC, BCEHS said it has notified WorkSafeBC about the assault, and that any recommendations that arise from the review of the incident will be implemented as soon as possible.

“We’re [also] deeply grateful to our partners at the RCMP who responded to this incident and detained the person, and to the other BCEHS paramedics and supervisor in the area who came to their colleague’s aid,” the statement added.

“Our thoughts are with this paramedic, their colleagues and loved ones as they recover from this incident. We know the impact of violence incidents can resonate beyond the immediate event, and this paramedic is being offered all the support they need, including mental health supports.”

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According to Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia (CUPE 873), the union that represents BCEHS members, an unknown man approached the female paramedic at the Canco gas station on Tranquille Road around 5:00 p.m. Sunday and punched her in the face unprovoked.

The union’s communications director, Ian Tait, told CFJC that the paramedic had to be taken to hospital for assessment. He said while she was shaken up, the paramedic is back at work as her injuries were not “significant.”

Tait also said that in general, cases of unprovoked violence against paramedics have been on the rise in 2025. He said the union is hoping to work with BCEHS to come up with more funding and training to counter unprovoked violence in the workplace.

“The frustrating part is we’re seeing it from a lot of the unhoused and people who are suffering from mental health,” Tait said. “The unfortunate part is we’re kind of their frontline healthcare system. The paramedics go to the encampments, tents and areas and meet them where they’re at.”

“It really puts into perspective how dangerous this job can be and how things can really turn in an instant when dealing with somebody who can be unpredictable. It’s unfortunate because we obviously come to these calls with an outstretched hand and compassion and sometimes, you’re not really met in kind.”

BCEHS also said that violence against paramedics and other health-care workers is always unacceptable, and that it is “committed to doing everything we can to ensure BCEHS employees are able to do their jobs safely.

“To this end, we have increased our violence prevention training and also the mental health supports we offer our paramedics,” BCEHS added.

Tait also said the man who punched the paramedic has assault charges pending, though Kamloops RCMP have not yet confirmed that. Detachment spokesperson Cpl. Dana Napier didn’t mention whether charges were laid of if an arrest was made, though she noted the file remains under investigation.