St John Ambulance - Southwestern Ontario

05/10/2025

Out in force today at Fanshawe College.

Our fabulous volunteers representing St John Ambulance Medical First Response and Therapy Dog community service units are out today till 3pm at London’s Emergency Preparedness Day.

Stop by, we’d love to see you.

05/10/2025

It’s happening today!

03/31/2025

Congratulations to our incredible Board Member, Instructor Trainer and friend, Anna White. Anna was recognized with the Dr. George Sterling Ryerson Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching. Anna has volunteered hundreds of hours developing St John Ambulance First Aid Instructors and MFR Volunteers across Ontario. Anna, we thank you for your selfless service!

03/29/2025

Congratulations and thank you to our dedicated Volunteers, Board and Staff who serve our communities across Southwestern Ontario. Last night, at St John’s Annual Provincial Conference, our team was presented the Frederick N. Lewis Memorial award. This prestigious award recognizes the cooperation of Branch and Community Services for the betterment of our communities. It was so wonderful to have a volunteer from each of the communities in which we serve there to accept this award. Thank you to Ontario Council for recognizing our team. We love what we do!

02/20/2025

Thank you to our friends at Finch Auto Group for another incredible First Aid Training event! Your support helps our SJA volunteers to make an even greater impact in our community! St. John Ambulance Ontario

02/04/2025

01/09/2025

Such a heartwarming story from our friends at The Salvation Army Centre of Hope in Windsor. Thank you to our dedicated Windsor Essex TDog teams and all our volunteers across the Region. You make all the difference!

Dog Therapy Brings Joy to Windsor Centre of Hope Residents 🐕

The Salvation Army Centre of Hope in Windsor recently welcomed a furry friend —Bentley, a Great Dane therapy dog who has become a beloved source of comfort for residents, staff and volunteers.

Bentley’s presence has been transformative for 64-year-old Freddie, who has lived at the Centre of Hope for five months. A self-proclaimed big dog lover, Freddie felt connected with Bentley’s calm and reassuring presence.

“When I got up and walked away, Bentley followed me,” Freddie recalls. “I started rubbing his back, and he melted into my hands. You could tell how relaxed he was—he went right down to the floor on all fours.”

The time spent with Bentley, all thanks to St. John Ambulance, offers more than companionship for Freddie. It helps him keep his mind off his cancer diagnosis, which is now in remission.

“I just thought it was awesome because an animal is very non-judgmental,” he says. “They just love you and you love them, and there’s no in-between.”

Housing manager Marwa Al-Sahar introduced the program, which positively impacts the health and well-being of Centre of Hope residents.

“Many of our residents don’t have family or pets, so Bentley’s visit was truly special,” Marwa explains. “Therapy animals have an incredible ability to ease loneliness and lift spirits, perfectly aligning with our mission of holistic care.”

The initiative began after Marwa partnered with a St John Ambulance - Southwestern Ontario volunteer who regularly brings Bentley to community programs each month. If interest continues, more therapy dogs may be added to the program.

“Bentley’s visits are a simple reminder of the love and hope animals bring,” says Centre of Hope community engagement specialist Shannon Barnwell. “Our residents light up when Bentley walks in. For those who often feel isolated, these moments remind them they’re cared for and never alone.”

Bentley’s presence has brightened lives and helped fulfill the Centre of Hope’s mission of creating a nurturing community where everyone feels valued and understood. ❤

- Story by Chris McGregor

01/02/2025

As we kick off the new year, prioritizing mental health is more important than ever. With the post-holiday hustle winding down, January can often feel heavy for many people. This is a timely reminder to reflect on our mental well-being and support those around us.

Simple Resolutions for Better Mental Health

This January, make a commitment to:
• Check in on loved ones: Reach out with simple, meaningful conversations.
• Invest in mental health education: Sign up for a Mental Health First Aid course to build your skills and confidence.
• Practice self-care: Prioritize sleep, exercise, and relaxation in your routine.
• Be a mental health advocate: Encourage open discussions to reduce stigma and foster understanding.
• Get First Aid Trained: Be the helping hand in an emergency situation.

REGISTER for our First Aid courses today: www.sja.ca or call
519-432-1352

01/01/2025

Happy New Year from St. John Ambulance! We're dedicated to helping you stay safe and prepared in 2025. Here's to a year filled with health, happiness, and safety of course!

12/25/2024

Wishing everyone a safe and magical holiday season from all of us at St John Ambulance SWO

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated volunteers who give peace, hope, love and joy to so many ❤️💚

12/21/2024

Educating our Youth is an important part of St John’s mission. Thanks to our incredible St Thomas-Elgin MFR team for your dedication to helping students in our community to learn the valuable skill of First Aid! ⛑️🚑🩺 St. John Ambulance St.Thomas Elgin Branch St. John Ambulance Ontario

Last week, members from our Medical First Response unit had the pleasure of visiting Parkside to speak with a Kinesiology class! Students learned about the importance of first aid, our community impact, and the rewarding opportunities available in volunteering. Thanks for having us, Parkside!

Interested in joining our team of talented individuals? Send us an email and we can tell you what it means to be a volunteer with SJA: sjastthomas@gmail.com