Tofino to honour paramedic heroes

The B.C. Ambulance Service has identified two paramedics who died Tuesday when their ambulance plunged down a cliff into Kennedy Lake while driving back to Tofino after dropping a patient in Port Alberni. Jo-ann Fuller, 59, and Ivan Polivka, 65, of Tofino are seen in this undated photo.

Photograph by: Handout, .

Tofino event honours two paramedics killed in crash

Timescolonist.com November 4, 2010

Downtown Tofino will come to a standstill Saturday with thousands of people expected to gather for an outdoor memorial to remember two paramedics who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Jo-ann Fuller, 59, and Ivan Polivka, 65, died after their ambulance veered off the Pacific Rim highway and plunged down a cliff into Kennedy Lake on Oct. 19. They were the only occupants of the vehicle.

"We are basically going to close Tofino," said William (B.J.) Chute of the procession that will leave Wickaninnish Elementary School and proceed along First Street, to Campbell Street, then Fourth Street and back to the school where, Thursday, the finishing touches were being put on a temporary canopy for 2,500 people.

The memorial begins at 1 p.m. and people will be able to begin gathering within the canopy at noon. Paramedics, police officers and firefighters from across Canada and Washington state are among those expected to attend...

More at Vancouver Sun here.

Paramedic are heroes, too. Keeping the families and colleagues in my heart.