• Clearing a path
  • Always ready
  • Advanced Life Support skills
  • Promoting Paramedics

Chapter Structure

The Ontario Paramedic Association is proud to be comprised of multiple chapters across Ontario that represent the unique geographical interests of paramedics and the patients we treat.

It is important for paramedics to take ownership of their profession by being a part of our national hierarchy with over 22,000 members across the country. These paramedics fall under the Paramedic Association of Canada, the Ontario Paramedic Association and our respected local chapters.

We acknowledge thousands of paramedics for their continuous support.

Launch your own chapter

If you would like to develop a local chapter for your region, please contact the Ontario Paramedic Association.

Primary Chapters

Secondary Chapters

Tertiary Chapters

  • Make sure your service has a voice at the provincial table
  • This is where it all begins for paramedics in paramedic services that want to launch a new chapter
  • If your region has more than 12 paramedics who want to get together and start a chapter, please contact the OPA and we will set up a system so you can start advocating for paramedics

Member Benefits

Tangible Member Benefits

The Ontario Paramedic Association has the following member benefits for all chapters:

  • NEW! Legal Protection available for all Paramedic members & Associate members
  • Included online subscription to Canadian Paramedicine magazine
  • Included membership with the Ontario Paramedic Association
  • Included membership with the Paramedic Association of Canada

Online Member Benefits

The Ontario Paramedic Association finances the following provincial member benefits for all Primary Chapters & Secondary Chapters (members from across Ontario have access to these benefits by logging into their own website):

  1. Award Nominations
  2. Paramedic Perks
  3. Job Postings
  4. License Plate Rebates
  5. Scholarship Awards
  6. And so much more

For more information, please contact the Ontario Paramedic Association. Thank-you.

Technological Chapter Benefits

The Ontario Paramedic Association finances the following items for all chapters included in our website matrix:

  • Canada Post Address Complete
  • Domain Name registration & hosting (optional *.ca and *.com)
  • Email servers
  • Open North Political Research Technology
  • Unified SSL Security Certificates 
  • Website Maintenance Agreement

Chapter Development

There are 3 levels of chapters available under the Ontario Paramedic Association

  1. Tertiary Chapter (start-up with an interim board)
  2. Secondary Chapter (>12 members with an established board)
  3. Primary Chapter (>120 members with an integrated independent website and independent dues collection)

1) Tertiary Chapter (start-up with interim board)

A tertiary chapter is comprised of any number of members at various membership levels. Tertiary chapters are granted to those organizations that are in the process of developing. Here are some of the key elements of a virtual chapter.

  • Do not need to register a Not For Profit Corporation (provided by OPA)
  • Do not need to develop Bylaws (provided by OPA)
  • Do not need to elect a Board of Directors or hold Annual General Meetings (the chapter is a committee of the OPA)
  • The OPA provides a website
  • The OPA conducts Pre-Authorized Debits and provides the chapter with bimonthly reports
  • The OPA manages the Membership Registry
  • The OPA sends annual tax receipts to the members

2) Secondary Chapter (>12 members with an integrated website)

  • comprised of >12 full paramedic members at $22/month ($264/year)
    • includes Canadian Paramedicine Magazine
    • includes Paramedic Legal Protection Insurance
    • includes membership in the Ontario Paramedic Association
    • includes membership in the Paramedic Association of Canada
  • comprised of full paramedic members, associate members, student members and corporate members
  • must purchase your own website splash page for $1000 (this will be your chapter's entry portal to the OPA website)
  • NOTE: This sounds like a lot of money, but as your chapter grows, you will acquire corporate sponsors and dues to offset 100% of the costs. Paramedics are the most trusted profession in the world and the community wants to do business with us and they want the public to know they sponsor us.
  • must maintain compliance with the Corporations Act of Ontario
  • must register a Not For Profit Corporation under the Ministry of Government Services of Ontario
  • must develop Bylaws
  • must elect an Interim Board of Directors (before your first Annual General Meeting)
  • must hold 1 Annual General Meeting each year
  • after the first AGM, you need to elect a Board of Directors (the Board then decides who will hold which role
  • Do not need your own Pre-Authorized Debit system
  • The OPA registrar manages your membership registry
  • Secondary chapters are downstream-funded (the OPA collects dues each month and sends an email money transfer or direct deposit to the secondary chapter every two months)

3) Primary Chapter (>120 members with an integrated independent website and independent dues collection)

  • comprised of >120 full members at $22/month ($264/year)
    • includes Canadian Paramedicine Magazine
    • includes Paramedic Legal Protection Insurance
    • includes membership in the Ontario Paramedic Association
    • includes membership in the Paramedic Association of Canada
  • comprised of full paramedic members, associate members, student members and corporate members
  • must purchase your own primary chapter website for $8000.00 (such as www.NiagaraMedics.ca, www.OttawaParamedics.ca, www.PeelParamedics.ca, www.TorontoParamedic.com, ) and the OPA will pay $1000 of this amount towards integrating all primary chapter websites on the provincial matrix. NOTE: This sounds like a lot of money, but as your chapter grows, you will acquire corporate sponsors and dues to offset 100% of the costs. Paramedics are the most trusted profession in the world. The business community wants to interact with paramedics
  • must maintain compliance with the Corporations Act of Ontario
  • must register a Not For Profit Corporation under the Ministry of Government Services of Ontario
  • must develop Bylaws
  • must elect an Interim Board of Directors (before your first Annual General Meeting)
  • must hold 1 Annual General Meeting each year
  • after the first AGM, you need to elect a Board of Directors (the Board then decides who will hold which role)
  • must have your own Pre-Authorized Debit system & PayPal Pro System
  • manage your own membership registry and your website will automatically update the OPA's website
  • Primary chapters are upstream-funded and independent (the primary chapter collects dues from their members and is invoiced by the OPA every two months)

Tertiary & Secondary Chapter Dues Breakdown

Full Paramedic Member pays $22/month

  • $7 Secondary Chapter
  • $15 OPA which then pays DAS, CPM, PAC
    • $7 DAS (Paramedic Legal Protection)
    • $2.50 CPM/PAF (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine and/or Government Relations)
    • $1.50 PAC (Paramedic Association of Canada)
    • $4 OPA (Ontario Paramedic Association) includes business fees (pre-authorized debit system, bookkeeper, accountant, legal, insurance, website maintenance agreement, website SSL certificates and provincial website matrix)

Associate Member pays $19/month

  • $4 Secondary Chapter
  • $15 OPA which then pays DAS, CPM, PAC
    • $7 DAS (Paramedic Legal Protection)
    • $2.50 CPM/PAF (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine and/or Government Relations)
    • $1.50 PAC (Paramedic Association of Canada)
    • $4 OPA (Ontario Paramedic Association) includes business fees (pre-authorized debit system, bookkeeper, accountant, legal, insurance, website maintenance agreement, website SSL certificates and provincial website matrix)

Corporate Partner

Student Members

  • Student - Year 1 ($89.65/year)
  • Student - Year 2 ($89.65/year)
  • Student - Year 1 + 2 Discounted ($159.65)
  • $40/year from every Student Membership goes to the Secondary or Tertiary Chapter

Primary Chapter Dues Breakdown

Full Paramedic Member pays $22/month

  • $15 Primary Chapter and business fees (pre-authorized debit system, bookkeeper, accountant, legal, insurance, paramedic legal protection and pre-authorized debit system)
    • $7 DAS (Paramedic Legal Protection)
    • $8 retained by the Primary Chapter
    • NOTE: Political Action Fund amounts not included
  • $7 OPA which then pays CPM & PAC
    • $2.50 CPM/PAF (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine and/or Government Relations)
    • $1.50 PAC (Paramedic Association of Canada)
    • $3 OPA (Ontario Paramedic Association) includes website fees (website maintenance agreement, website SSL certificates and provincial website matrix)

Associate Member pays $19/month

  • $12 Primary Chapter and business fees (pre-authorized debit system, bookkeeper,accountant, legal, insurance, paramedic legal protection and pre-authorized debit system)
    • $7 DAS (Paramedic Legal Protection)
    • $5 retained by the Primary Chapter
    • NOTE: Political Action Fund amounts not included
  • $7 OPA which then pays CPM & PAC
    • $2.50 CPM/PAF (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine and/or Government Relations)
    • $1.50 PAC (Paramedic Association of Canada)
    • $3 OPA (Ontario Paramedic Association) includes website fees (website maintenance agreement, website SSL certificates and provincial website matrix)

Corporate Member pays $884/month or greater

Student Members

  • Student - Year 1 ($89.65/year)
  • Student - Year 2 ($89.65/year)
  • Student - Year 1 + 2 Discounted ($159.65)
  • $40/year from every Student Membership goes to the OPA and the difference is retained by the Primary Chapter