Lanark County Paramedic Service officially opens new Almonte base
The Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS) officially opened its rebuilt and expanded Almonte base Friday morning, marking a major milestone more than three years after the former facility was destroyed by fire.
On Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, LCPS staff joined Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) leadership, elected officials, emergency-service partners and community partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the new facility at 75 Spring St, at the corner of State Street and Gomme Street, across from Fairview Manor.
“Today is about much more than opening a building,” said Travis Mellema, chief of the LCPS. “It’s an opportunity to recognize the resilience of our paramedics and staff, the partners who stepped forward when we needed them, and everyone who helped us reach this point.”
As previously reported, the former Almonte Base was destroyed by fire in March 2023. Despite the loss, LCPS continued providing paramedic services across Lanark County while operating from temporary accommodations. The Municipality of Mississippi Mills and the Mississippi Mills Fire Department provided temporary operating space at Fire Station 1 while the expanded facility was being rebuilt.
Brad Harrington, president and CEO of the MRHA, also recognized the response of LCPS staff following the fire.
“I watched the LCPS team absorb an enormous disruption without allowing that disruption to define the care they provided to the community,” Harrington shared. “This new base reflects the professionalism and resilience of the entire LCPS team and represents an important investment in the people, infrastructure and services our communities rely on.”
Friday morning’s ceremony included remarks from Michel G. Vermette, chair of the Allied Boards of Directors, and John Jordan, MPP for Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston, who highlighted the professionalism and resilience demonstrated by the LCPS team throughout the rebuilding process.
“Buildings matter. Infrastructure matters. But ultimately, organizations are defined by their people,” Vermette emphasized,
Mellema said the new facility will provides LCPS with “a strong foundation” to take on its current operations and potentially expanded future service as the region’s population continues to grow.
Following the ceremony, guests toured the base and met with LCPS staff to learn more about the new facility.