St. John Ambulance BC/Yukon

06/24/2026

Today is St. John’s Day and a milestone we are proud to share with our communities: 115 years of service for St. John Ambulance BC and Yukon.

Since 1911 in BC, St. John Ambulance has helped people learn life-saving first aid, respond in emergencies, and care for one another in moments of need. While much has changed over the decades, one constant remains: people helping people.

This day belongs to the thousands of volunteers, employees, donors, partners, and supporters who have carried this mission forward. Your compassion, time, and commitment continue to shape safer and more resilient communities across BC and the Yukon.

💚Happy St. John’s Day and thank you for being part of this story.

👉In honour of this milestone, learn more about our charitable mission and support our ongoing work here: sjaimpact.ca

06/23/2026

We are thrilled to see our upcoming 115th anniversary milestone featured in the Daily Hive! 💚

A huge thank you to Daily Hive Vancouver for helping us share this special moment with the community, and to the City of Vancouver for lighting up the Burrard Street Bridge in our honour tonight. We are so proud to have served British Columbia since 1911.

And it isn't FIFA-related.

06/23/2026

Tonight, Vancouver’s Burrard Street Bridge will glow green. 🌉💚

The illumination marks the eve of St. John’s Day and celebrates 115 years of service by St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon - 115 years of people stepping forward to help others in moments that matter most.

Observed by St. John organizations around the world, St. John’s Day is a global tradition of service, volunteerism, and community care that has strengthened communities for generations.

As the lights come on tonight, we honour the volunteers, employees, donors, partners, and supporters whose commitment continues to make this work possible every day.

If you’re in Vancouver, look up and share in this moment with us.

Learn more about our charitable mission at: sjaimpact.ca - link in bio

06/22/2026

Protect your family this summer. 💙

Stepping in to help care for elderly parents brings new responsibilities. Replace worry with peace of mind by knowing exactly how to handle real situations.

St. John Ambulance’s 1-day Emergency First Aid programs give parents and caregivers the confidence to handle real-life situations when it matters most.

Gain the skills to manage:

🟢Everyday scrapes and choking
🟢Assisting aging relatives during a medical emergency
🟢Real situations and everything in between

Be the one they trust.

👉 Secure your spot today: https://sja.ca/summer-bcy

💚Course registration proceeds directly support our volunteer initiatives like the Therapy Dog Program. When you train with us, you give back to your community!

📣Follow us for more on first aid and safety!

06/22/2026

Protect your family this summer. 💙

Our 1-day Emergency First Aid program gives adult caregivers the confidence to assist aging relatives during a medical emergency. Gain the skills to handle real-life situations when it matters most.

Be the one they trust.

👉 Train now: https://sja.ca/summer-bcy

💚Your course registration fees support our volunteer initiatives like the Therapy Dog Program. When you train with us, you give back to your community!

06/18/2026

🚒 Stepping Back in Time: 115 Years of Mobile Care in BC!

From the early days of rugged industrial first aid to the modern wilderness responses we support today, our look has changed quite a bit over our 115 years of service right here in British Columbia! But while our vehicles have evolved, one thing has triggered a lot of scratched heads over the generations: our name.

💡 What’s in a Name? (And No, We Aren’t an Ambulance Service!)
Let’s clear up a little modern confusion. Even though the word "ambulance" is boldly printed on our vintage and modern fleets alike, we aren't an ambulance service, nor does the term refer to a specific type of vehicle.

Instead, we use the word in its classic 17th and 18th-century context, which simply meant a "mobile field unit." So, while it has definitely caused a few mixed-up phone calls in modern times, it’s a proud network of bringing life-saving training and care directly to where it is needed most.

⚠️ The Extra 'S' Mystery: While we're on the subject of naming mix-ups, here is another incredibly common mistake—many people accidentally call us St. John's Ambulance. You can officially drop the 's'! The proper name is simply St. John Ambulance.

👑 Local Legends: The Ruth Wynn Woodward Impact - Our history in BC is paved with the incredible dedication of local community leaders. One of our most passionate historic supporters was Ruth Wynn Woodward, a prominent BC business and community figure. She poured immense energy into championing our mission across the province, living by a philosophy that still drives our volunteers today:

"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing. Because you can only do a little, do what you can."

Thanks to that spirit of community philanthropy, companies like Woodward Stores Ltd. even stepped up to fund and donate physical "mobile field units" to our fleet during the mid-20th century, ensuring British Columbians were protected long before centralized emergency services existed.

🤝 A Global Legacy, A Local Impact - Many people are surprised to learn that St. John Ambulance is entirely a charitable organization. Our core mission to empower safer communities isn't a recent trend, either—it actually stretches back nearly 1,000 years, making us one of the oldest continuous charities in human history.

For over a century, that massive global legacy has worn a distinctly local hat, supporting neighbors, volunteers, and workplaces through thick and thin across the West Coast and the North.

Want to see how we operate, train, and engage with the incredible communities we serve today?

👉 Visit our impact site at sjaimpact.ca to dive deeper into our ongoing community work here in BC and out in the Yukon!

Follow us for more on our history, our first aid mission and our amazing volunteers!

06/16/2026

Time to retire the "Hollywood" seizure myth. 🎬🙅‍♂️

With June kicking off the outdoor adventure season across BC and the Yukon, our calendars are packed. But more time spent under the sun, on the trails, or at summer events means a higher chance of being the person who needs to step up in an emergency.

If you see someone having a seizure this summer, leave the TV tropes behind.

❌The Myth: You need to pin them down and shove something between their teeth to keep them safe.

The Reality: Forcing objects into someone’s mouth or trying to violently restrain them causes way more harm than good. You risk breaking their teeth, causing jaw trauma, or injuring yourself.

✅The Fact: Keep it simple. Protect their head by placing a folded jacket or towel underneath it, clear the area of hard objects so they don't bump into them, and start a timer. Once the shaking stops, gently roll them onto their side into the recovery position to keep their airway clear.

💡 Did you know that seizures aren't always related to epilepsy? They can happen to anyone for a number of unexpected reasons. A sudden seizure can be triggered by severe dehydration or low blood sugar, head injuries and concussions from summer sports, sudden reactions to substances or medications, or even high fevers and infections.

Don’t guess your way through an emergency. Be the summer hero your friends can rely on when things go sideways. From basic life-saving skills to specialized kits for your backpack, we’ve got what you need. Check out our variety of courses and register online at sja.ca.

Want to get your whole outdoor club, lifeguard squad, or workplace ready for the season? Custom team training sessions can be arranged through our Customer Care Team toll-free at 1-866-321-2651.

06/11/2026

We are so incredibly relieved that Linda is doing well today! 💚

During an Earth Day trail run in the Comox Valley, Linda experienced a severe vertigo attack and was rushed to our first aid tent. Our volunteer Medical First Responders quickly stepped in to help—and during their assessment, they identified dangerously high blood pressure.

Thanks to their quick thinking, Linda was able to get to the emergency room in time, receive treatment, and avoid a potential stroke. She is now recovering safely and looking forward to her next trail run! 🌲🏃‍♀️

We want to extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to the Comox Valley volunteer team who attended to Linda that day, and to all our volunteers who provide this incredible public safety boost at hundreds of events across B.C. and the Yukon.

Did you know our volunteer mission is fueled by our community? Every time you register for a first aid class or purchase supplies like a first aid kit from us, the proceeds go directly back into our community services. It’s thanks to the heroes in training that we can fund the heroes on the ground who help folks like Linda. 🚑✨

Ready to be a hero in training? Book your next first aid class or grab a kit at sja.ca!

06/08/2026

When you think of St. John Ambulance, you might think of a first aid certificate or a classroom. But behind the training slides is a vibrant, 900-year-old humanitarian legacy powered entirely by the fuel of dedicated community volunteers.

On May 2nd at the Lake Cowichan Fire Hall, we gathered with family, local RCMP, and fire officers to celebrate the pinnacle of that dedication: presenting Roy Large with the Ultra Long Service award for 63 years of volunteer service.

Roy joined us in 1963 and has spent over six decades keeping the Cowichan Valley safe. He has worn almost every hat imaginable—starting as a basic front-line first-aider, moving into leadership as a superintendent and Area Commissioner, and eventually being knighted into the Order of St. John by the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. in 2016.

Even at 85 years old, Roy’s impact endures. He remains a cherished mentor to our members, who still carry on traditions like reciting the St. John pledge together. As Roy beautifully put it, "Being able to give back a little to my adopted country Canada was a true joy to me."

We are an organization known for first aid training, but we are a community built entirely on heart. Many people don't realize that when you choose St. John Ambulance for your workplace training, or purchase a first aid kit for your home, you are directly fueling this mission. Your support provides the equipment, uniforms, and resources that allow volunteers like Roy to serve your community for decades.

Thank you, Roy, for 63 years of setting the gold standard of what it means to serve, and thank you to everyone who chooses SJA and makes this work possible. 💚

06/05/2026

⚽The summer sports season is kicking into high gear—make sure you're ready to ensure player safety on the field with our 1-Day First Aid Training.

Training with St. John Ambulance helps you check off that mandatory compliance box quickly, so you can focus on what you actually want to do—coaching, leading, and getting out on the field safely. Designed specifically for the season, our Emergency First Aid: Community Care course is ideal for coaching staff, team captains, and rec teams.

With this quick, comprehensive training, you will:

✅Ensure player safety on the field
✅Stay prepared for any emergency
✅Build team trust and coordination

Be the one they trust. Secure your certification before the next game or ask about our group training options!

🟢 TEAM BONUS: Proceeds from all course registrations give back to community through our volunteer Medical First Responder Program!

👉 Find a class near you: https://sja.ca/summer-bcy