CARLYLE - Dana and Rae Fenwick have been owner-operators of Supreme Ambulance in Carlyle since 1987, when they purchased their business from Lew Oatway.
The company is one of only a handful of ambulance services in southern Saskatchewan that is still privately owned. They own two ambulances and have a staff of seven full-time and four casual employees.
Jackie Blaise joined Supreme in 2011 and is their occupation health and safety co-ordinator. Aaron Patterson has also been employed with Supreme for 10 years and is their longest tenured primary care provider (PCP). He lives in Mortlach.
A minimum of four PCPs must be working in Carlyle 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Fenwicks have seen many changes in healthcare over the years, and of course have endured the past 1 1/2 years of COVID.
“While the protocols and procedures may have changed, the main focus of our business has not,” said Dana. “Our job is to transport people with life threatening issues to a designated health care facility as quickly as possible. Every life matters.”
Supreme Ambulance averages 70-80 calls per month. This past July, they set a record taking in over 100 callouts.
Added Rae: “We have wanted to trade in our existing ambulances for over three years now but with manufacturing parts issues, we are back-ordered. A new ambulance with the needed equipment costs well over $230,000.”
COVID has also added on various additional expenses to their business. Dana advised that a box of disposable gloves in 2019 cost $13; they are now $32.
The Fenwicks have four children, Jayson, Lisa (Morrison), Kara (Bunz) and Jordan, along with eight grandchildren. This past March, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Do they have any regrets about moving to Carlyle and raising their family some 34 years ago?
“Not one bit,” said Dana. “We love living in southeastern Saskatchewan and Carlyle is a great place to live and do business.”
