Lloyd’s Ambulance
Recently, the Labour Heritage Centre was provided with the opportunity to meet someone who played a role establishing the first ambulance service in Sicamous, BC.
Soon, thanks to WorkSafeBC, Vancouver Convention Centre West, and the Labour Heritage Centre, you will also have the chance to meet Lloyd O’Brien.
Lloyd and family visiting his plaque at Vancouver Convention Centre West
Before 1974, there was no established provincial ambulance service. For those in rural or isolated communities, the absence of an organized emergency response system meant valuable time was often lost before the injured or ill received necessary medical attention. Even in urban areas, where private ambulance services might exist, companies were only equipped to handle a certain number of cases. Volunteers across the province worked to fill in the gaps, often self-trained and with few resources. Lloyd O’Brien was one of those volunteers.
Lloyd O’Brien was reminded of the importance of emergency medical services and knowledge of first aid at many times throughout his life. At the age of 18 he lost his leg a railway accident in Vancouver. A few years later he was offered a job as an ambulance driver with a private company in Burnaby, picking up skills and training as he drove one of the three cars that provided services to the community.
When the Second Narrows bridge collapsed in 1957, which resulted in the death of many workers, he was one of the many who worked tirelessly to save the lives of those injured. Tragically, he had to experience the discovery of one of his best friends among those fatally injured.
Within the year, Lloyd moved away from the Lower Mainland and purchased a small restaurant in Sicamous, a tiny town in the Columbia-Shuswap district of British Columbia. However, while running the restaurant might have been the initial plan, Lloyd soon found himself at the scene of another accident after the local constable called on him (and his station wagon–the only one in the town) to help transport someone injured by a railway accident.
It was clear that Lloyd had valuable first aid knowledge, and that, plus his station wagon, led him down the path to becoming the voluntary ambulance service for the area. He was lent a siren and an emergency light, and after a friend helped him with the wiring, Lloyd’s ambulance was in service.
The demand for ambulance services soon was too much for one driver to handle, and other volunteers were recruited. A system was established where drivers charged a small amount ($5) for transport, and money was raised to buy a Pontiac hearse for a makeshift ambulance for what became the first ambulance of the Kinsmen Community Volunteer Ambulance Service, eleven years before the establishment of a provincial ambulance service.
Lloyd (left) and Alex Huywan pointing to their picture in a photograph of the first official ambulance in Sicamous, BC.
With such valuable and important contributions to his community, we are really excited to announce that a profile on Lloyd O’Brien is being developed in partnership with WorkSafeBC and the Labour Heritage Centre.
We will be posting this short video–and others–over the following months. Be sure to check back for updates!
Congrats Uncle Lloyd! Lots Of love to you!
I am your #1 Fan Love Cindy
Congratulations Uncle Lloyd. We are so proud of you.
Love Ray and Brenda
Congratulations Dad, were both so proud of you, looking forward to the video.
Love Jake & Colleen
Your such an amazing person. Congrats Lloyd you deserve it!!! Love Terry
Uncle Lloyd, You are awesome!!!
Today, B.C.’s ambulance service is staffed by fully trained life savers who are members of Local 873 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. It’s good to see how it all started with Lloyd O’Brien and his crew. Great post and fine work on everyone’s part. Thank you. I look forward to seeing the forthcoming documentary video.
Ron Verzuh, LHC board member and labour historian
Congratulations Mr O’Brien!!
It was great for us to be able to share this time with you. I know that it meant alot for Dad to be there.
I have lots of memories of phoning volunteers to go out on emergency calls. It was a great service to the community. Awesome job!!
Luv ya lots!
Donna