On May 8, 2026 the Rotary Club of Squamish sponsored its first “Adventures in First Responding” event at Howe Sound Senior Secondary School. This event brought together members of Squamish EHS (ambulance paramedics), Squamish RCMP and the Vancouver Police Department in what was effectively a careers day for high school students interested in careers in one or both of those services.
14 HSSS students, from grades 10 through 12 attended this day-long event.
The day’s program began with the students being put through a fitness testing session similar to that prospective police officers must pass when applying for careers in policing. This was followed by a classroom session during which Rotarians described the Adventures initiative, and members of both paramedic and police services addressed the students with general career information.
The students were then split into two groups for a two-hour morning session. One group attended and participated in paramedic instruction and simulations. This included such activities as CPR, giving injections, patient ventilation, wound treatment and blood staunching, the use of mechanical gurneys and a full tour of an attending ambulance. The other group attended and participated in police instruction and simulations, including some lecture time, simulated roadside stops using real (stationary) police cruisers, suspect approach and apprehension, and handcuffing. After a lunch break, the two groups switched and attended the opposite program to the one they’d attended in their morning sessions.
During the day, several members of the Squamish Fire Department dropped by to observe the day’s events. The firefighters held an impromptu question and answer session during the students’ lunch break. The hope is that the fire department will be full participants in future years’ Adventures programs.
At the end of the day Officer Graeme Minty of the VPD Canine Division put on an exciting police dog demonstration with his service dog “Sully”.
This day was a great success. It was the brainchild of long time Rotarian Lynda Rocha, this year’s Club Secretary. Tragically, Lynda died suddenly and unexpectedly just a few days before the event was held. Thanks to the dedication of all, the event nevertheless proceeded in her honour.
The hope is that Adventures in First Responding will become an annual event at HSSS in the years to come.
