The City of Greater Sudbury is proud to announce that Joseph Nicholls, General Manager of Community Safety, was awarded the prestigious Richard J. Armstrong Leadership Award during yesterday's Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs' (OAPC) annual gala in London, Ontario. This honour is given annually to an individual recognized for outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the field of paramedicine in Ontario.
"During his more than 20 years with the City, Joe has exemplified what it means to be a public servant and a leader," said City of Greater Sudbury CAO Shari Lichterman. "This provincial recognition highlights his expertise and genuine care for his colleagues, which have made our community safer and our organization stronger. On behalf of all city employees, I extend my sincere congratulations to Joe on this achievement."
Throughout his tenure, first as Chief of Paramedic Services and now as General Manager of Community Safety, Nicholls has championed numerous pioneering initiatives including:
- the transition from paper-based vehicle tracking to an automated vehicle locator (AVL) program.
- the early adoption of power-load stretchers and fully powered stair chairs to reduce musculoskeletal injuries among paramedics, making Greater Sudbury the first service in Ontario to be fully equipped with this technology.
- the development of the Community Paramedicine Program, which began as a pilot and is now an integral part of providing proactive care to residents in their homes.
- the introduction of the Peer Support Network and a Facility Dog program to provide mental health resources and support for first responders.
Nicholls also served for eight years on the OAPC board of directors and co-chaired working groups to revise provincial vehicle and equipment standards, contributing his expertise to paramedicine across Ontario.
Nicholls, who has played a key role in guiding the city through major events, including the SARS, H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics, is retiring from his role as General Manager later this month.
The City of Greater Sudbury congratulates Joseph Nicholls on this distinguished award and thanks him for his decades of dedicated service.