Nov 03, 2009 - 01:35 PM

By Kristen Calis

PICKERING -- After years of planning, a new emergency medical services station will soon open in Pickering.

"This is a long-awaited moment for us," said Richard Armstrong, chief of Emergency Medical Services for Durham.

Durham Region purchased the land for the new station in 2003 and it will be open for business by the end of this year.

At the launch on Monday afternoon at the new station, located close to Kingston and Dixie roads, Pickering councillors, paramedics, police, firefighters and Regional officials celebrated the new facility.

"This facility is a welcome addition because it will improve the overall service in our community, which is growing," said Mayor Dave Ryan.

This is the fifth new station to open since the Province downloaded the responsibility for providing land ambulance service to municipalities in 1998, Regional Chairman Roger Anderson said. He said the quality of service relies on co-operation of all emergency response teams, such as police, the fire department and EMS.

He said "this new facility contributes to that effort with an effective location for our paramedics," which will offer a quick response time for residents.

The new $3.5-million, 6,600-square foot station will replace the EMS station that currently operates close to Whites and Kingston roads.

"The other one they worked out of was in the back of a plaza," said Ward 2 Regional Councillor Bill McLean.

The new location is immediately off of Kingston Road, with an easy access to the street.

"It will enhance the response time in the Pickering area," Mr. Armstrong said.

The majority of calls come from the vicinity of Kingston and Liverpool roads and northward.

Two ambulances will operate during peak times (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), and one will run throughout the night. Two rapid response vehicles will also be on hand.

The large space will also allow for the storage of two extra ambulances.

Six paramedics will be on duty during the day and four at night, but that could be modified after monitoring call volume, Mr. Armstrong said.

In 2008, Durham Region EMS responded to about 82,000 emergency calls, which have more than doubled since January 2000. In 2009 in Pickering, EMS responded to 5,835 calls, which made up nearly 12 per cent of the call volume throughout Durham Region.