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.

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Primary Chapters

• www.NiagaraMedics.ca
• www.OntarioParamedic.ca
• www.OttawaParamedics.ca
• www.PeelParamedics.ca
• www.TorontoParamedic.com

Secondary Chapters

• www.MuskokaParamedics.ca
• www.SimcoeParamedics.ca
• www.WaterlooParamedics.ca

Virtual Chapters

• Pending. If your region has more than 12 members, please contact the OPA.

Chapter Development

Chapter development is scheduled in County of Renfrew, Durham, Frontenac, Leeds-Grenville, Middlesex-London, Oxford County, Sault Ste. Marie and York Region.

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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 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. Deals for Paramedics
3. Forms and Documents
4. Job Postings
5. License Plate Rebates
6. Scholarship Awards

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)
• Open North Political Research Technology
• Unified SSL Security Certificates 
• Website Maintenance Agreement

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Chapter Development

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

1. Virtual Chapter
2. Secondary Chapter (>12 members with an integrated website)
3. Primary Chapter (>120 members with an independently integrated website)

1) Virtual Chapter (unrestricted & unfunded)

A virtual chapter is comprised of any number of members at various membership levels (we have grandfathered the virtual chapters and would like to move away from this model in favour of keeping financial resources in your area). Virtual 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 (as you are essentially a committee of the OPA)
• Do not need a website splash page
• Do not need your own Pre-Authorized Debit system (dues are collected through the OPA)
• Do not need a Membership Registry (members are managed by the OPA)

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 and then downloads the equivalent of $6/member each month via email money transfer or direct deposit to your secondary chapter account)

3) Primary Chapter (>120 members with an independently integrated website)

• 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 (your chapter collects dues and then uploads the equivalent of $12/member every 2 months via email money transfer or direct deposit to the OPA account)

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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 (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine)
  • $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 (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine)
  • $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 Member pays $884/month or greater

• http://www.ontarioparamedic.ca/corporate/
• $84 from each corporate sponsorship goes to the OPA (regardless of level of sponsorship) and the chapter retains the difference

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 Chapter and the OPA retains the difference

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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 (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine)
  • $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 (Canadian Paramedicine Magazine)
  • $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

• http://www.ontarioparamedic.ca/corporate/
• $84 from every corporate sponsorship level goes to the OPA (regardless of level of sponsorship) and the chapter retains the difference

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 Secondary Chapter retains the difference

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