Paramedic program graduates first class

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This article was published 13/06/2025 (286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Adorned in paramedic gear and with friends and family at their sides, six students were part of their program’s first graduating class in Brandon on Thursday.

“I feel pretty good, a little bit ecstatic. I’m happy to be done,” said Jordyn Little, who was among the first cohort of graduates from the Elite Safety Services Inc. primary-care paramedic program.

“It was a long course,” Little said. “It’s full-time, so it was quite a load.”

The six graduates spent the last 11 months working in classrooms and work placements, which they said had a crammed schedule.

“Classes were pretty good — they were pretty heavy with the material. There’s a lot to study and a lot to keep on track of,” said Little, who grew up in both Brandon and Rivers.

After a quick vacation, she plans to go north to help with the wildfires if they are still active by then.

Little said she’s also applying for jobs ahead of the national paramedic exam in July, and hopes to work anywhere in western Manitoba.

Rachelle Wiens, who both graduated and was the class rep, said it was a hectic year, but that she’s happy with the group she got to do it with.

“It was a long 11 months, but we did it,” she said during the ceremony. “When we first came into the class, we were all shy, we were all nervous, we didn’t speak to each other, and that changed a lot.

“We were basically guinea pigs and we knew it, but I think it went over very well,” said Wiens, who is also married to the class instructor.

Mike Wiens said it was already complicated getting things set up for the first-ever class, but the added complication of writing policy for him and his wife made everything even harder.

He said things went well once the year got underway, and that the students involved were a great group to start with.

“They did fantastic,” Mike said. “All the (practicum supervisors) commented on how caring and compassionate, hard-working and extremely skilled our students are.”

He said he’s “excited for them” now that they are close to getting jobs and being part of a life-saving team.

“I would gladly work with any one of them on an ambulance. It would be a lot of fun.”

Mike said the company is hoping to have eight students per year in the program, and that it is still going through the accreditation process.

He said the current students are all certified, as the company was given tentative approval to run the program.

» alambert@brandonsun.com