North Shore Central Ambulance
Cooperative
When residents of the North Shore identified a need for medical transportation, the North Shore Central
Ambulance Cooperative was formed to meet this growing demand. The mandate of the cooperative is to
provide rural ambulance services that are both efficient and reliable. The members of the cooperative
are paramedics and ambulance drivers, and the cooperative currently employs four staff.
The cooperative originated as a privately owned enterprise that was not successful. The workers
identified that the region needed a reliable rural ambulance service so they took it over the business.
The cooperative model helped the residents of the North Shore since the profits of the cooperative are
used to purchase equipment and train employees as well as the employees who are paid competitive
wages and have job security.
This cooperative does not only generate jobs and revenue, but they are also a community leader. Since
1996, the cooperative has held a ‘safe treats event’ on Halloween. The ambulance service travels along
route 70 from Job’s Cove to Kingston handing out treats to kids. Safe treats is intended to encourage
parents to escort their children while trick-or-treating while promoting safe Halloween habits.
Through community engagement and smart business practices, the cooperative currently generates an
estimated annual revenue of $276,472 and has operated for thirty seven years. The North Shore Central
Ambulance Cooperative shows that cooperatives can not only generate economic development in
communities, but they also have the potential to become community leaders.
The North shore Central Ambulance Cooperative shows that businesses that are at risk of closing can be
transformed into cooperatives. The cooperative model can ensure that residents have continued access
to services and employees have job security.