John Riches will become Waterloo Region's new chief of paramedic services later this month.
The region says Riches has significant leadership experience in the areas of 911 response operations, community paramedicine and health outreach programs. He has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy, Administration and Law from York University.
Riches is coming from the Region of Durham, where he most recently served as deputy chief of paramedic services.
“I am honoured to join the Region of Waterloo and work with the dedicated and hardworking staff in Public Health and Emergency Services," Riches said in a news release.
"In particular, I am very humbled to serve as Chief and collaborate with the paramedics, support staff and leadership team in Paramedic Services to address the many challenges impacting the health care system. We will continue to engage our stakeholders with the goal of addressing the pressures that impact response times, resource availability, and staff wellness and morale.”
Riches will join the Region of Waterloo on January 30.