Jan Foster Obituary

[Biker911]

I attended the Funeral service for Jan Foster in Calgary last week and was reminded of the contribution to Paramedicine that she made in Calgary and Canada. She was the first co-ordinator and instructor for the original EMT program at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) in 1972 and continued in that position for 16 years. There was NO other program in Canada, so she was required to set the curriculum and standards that evolved into the Paramedic programs of today. Her background was nursing and she was always voicing a concern of how the ambulance attendants brought patients into the ER. When the program was conceived and a posting went out to hire some-one to set up and administer it, she applied and went to work.

After the funeral, many Paramedics that were in her 1st, 2nd and in my 3rd year classes got a chance to visit and remember what it was that started all this paramedical stuff. We are amazed at how much it has changed and how much it has stayed the same. Some of us have been working continually for over 40 years. Jan Foster brought her professionalism into the class room and that ideal has remained to this day.

Jan Foster would be considered "THE MOTHER OF PARAMEDICINE" in Canada by all those that knew her.

[mobey]

I attended the Funeral service for Jan Foster in Calgary last week and was reminded of the contribution to Paramedicine that she made in Calgary and Canada. She was the first co-ordinator and instructor for the original EMT program at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) in 1972 and continued in that position for 16 years. There was NO other program in Canada, so she was required to set the curriculum and standards that evolved into the Paramedic programs of today. Her background was nursing and she was always voicing a concern of how the ambulance attendants brought patients into the ER. When the program was conceived and a posting went out to hire some-one to set up and administer it, she applied and went to work.

After the funeral, many Paramedics that were in her 1st, 2nd and in my 3rd year classes got a chance to visit and remember what it was that started all this paramedical stuff. We are amazed at how much it has changed and how much it has stayed the same. Some of us have been working continually for over 40 years. Jan Foster brought her professionalism into the class room and that ideal has remained to this day.

Jan Foster would be considered "THE MOTHER OF PARAMEDICINE" in Canada by all those that knew her.

Thanks for the post Biker911

And welcome to the boards!

[tniuqs]

Thanks Biker:

I did not hear of this passing, although a NAIT grad I know that Jan was instrumental in educating those that continued to spread those high standards of expectation throughout Alberta and then beyond.

May Jan Rest in Peace.

[Kaisu]

thanks for the posting. Rest in Peace Ms. Foster.

[Quakefire]

Great Post, thank you.

Rest in Peace

[tniuqs]

Not the best circumstances to welcome Biker911 a new member of EMT city, but very much looking forward to his input.

cheers