08/25/2026
MEET LANCE, THE NEWEST MEMBER OF CORNWALL AND SDG PARAMEDIC SERVICES
There is a new team member serving with the Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services. His name is Lance.
The Optimist Club of Cornwall has teamed up with Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services to provide stuffed llama plushies, named Lance, to paramedics responding to high-stress calls involving children.
Optimist Club member Cheryl Tourangeau, joined by commander Jenniflore D’Amour, presented the initiative to city council on Monday. Mayor Justin Towndale was gifted his own Lance the Llama, which now lives in the mayor’s office at City Hall.
Lance’s job is to turn frightening emergency encounters into moments of comfort, offering children a soft, friendly distraction while first responders deliver critical care.
The club’s board gave unanimous backing to the effort and secured internal funding to bring the project to life, supported by a grant from the Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation.
While emergency responders often handle motor-vehicle collisions and acute medical crises, the emotional toll on children trapped in the middle can often be overlooked. Flashing lights, blaring sirens, and unfamiliar uniforms can turn an already distressing situation into a traumatic memory, explained Optimist Club of Cornwall president Louis Savard.
“It’s one demographic that we often forget about,” said Savard. “You get into a simple car accident, look in the back seat, and there’s a child. The ambulance comes, and it’s a traumatic experience.”
Savard also emphasized that a frightening first encounter with first responders can leave lasting scars, making young people hesitant to seek help later in life. By placing a stuffed llama into a child’s hands, paramedics can quickly de-escalate fear and build a crucial bridge of communication.
“If the paramedics have something tangible that the kids can hang onto, then their focus becomes on the stuffing, and it gives them a sense of safety and security,” said Tourangeau.
“Through that, paramedics can create a bridge of communication to help relieve anxiety, stress, and fear. That’s what it’s about: helping kids and paramedics form a bond when life is at its worst.”
The plushies will be stocked in local ambulances across SDG and Cornwall. Organizers also hope the positive interaction leaves a lasting impression, potentially inspiring some youngsters to consider careers in paramedicine down the road.
To keep the fleet of comfort animals stocked for future calls, the Optimist Club is preparing to launch a public “Get a llama, give a llama” campaign. Under the planned model, community members will be able to purchase a plush llama for themselves or a loved one, with proceeds directly funding replenishment supplies for paramedic rigs.
The only difference is that Lance will be wearing a different colour of bandana from the plushies reserved for children in emergency situations.
Details regarding online sales for the public will be rolled out soon.
By: Marc Benoit
STANDARD-FREEHOLDER
