CETAM

What CETAM does

CETAM (Coopérative des techniciens ambulanciers de la Montérégie) is a member-owned cooperative founded in 1988 that delivers pre-hospital emergency medical services across the Montérégie region of Quebec. Operating as the exclusive contracted provider for CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre and CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, CETAM serves approximately 800,000 residents across 56 municipalities and 2,700 km² through 6 casernes, ~80 emergency vehicles, and 500+ member-paramedics handling over 82,000 calls annually. Its clinical scope spans primary care paramedicine, advanced care paramedicine (PSA — first-in-Quebec deployment since 2021), automated CPR via Lucas devices, and a unique community paramedicine (paramédecine de régulation) program for elderly patients that avoided 54% of emergency transports in its pilot phase.

CETAM's technology and service platform combines medical-grade equipment (Lucas automated chest compression systems exclusive to Greater Montreal/Montérégie), fleet innovation (Quebec's first long-range electric ambulance, the Mustang Mach-E Premium, deployed in 2022 with Cyberkar), and a unique ministerial decree enabling Hospital Service Loans that deploys paramedics directly into hospital emergency departments. The organization also runs the Spéro intervention dog program (in partnership with Les Chiens TOGO) and a comprehensive PTSD intervention plan with Psychologie du Suroît for paramedic mental health support.

The business model is anchored in long-term government healthcare contracts with the two CISSS authorities, supplemented by regulated patient transport fees (CAD $125 base + $1.75/km for Canadian residents; CAD $400 base + $1.75/km for non-residents), with broad exemptions for seniors 65+, road accident victims, social assistance recipients, workplace injuries, and inter-hospital transfers. The cooperative governance structure gives every worker-member one vote, an elected board of directors, and eligibility for annual profit-sharing (ristournes). CETAM does not have external shareholders or venture capital backing, and reports no publicly disclosed revenue. Strategic leadership is anchored by Director General Martin Benoit (appointed April 2019, contract renewed through 2025) and Assistant Director General Jérémy Ménard.

Name

CETAM

Legal name

Coopérative des techniciens ambulanciers de la Montérégie

Website

https://cetam.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CETAM is a member-owned cooperative providing pre-hospital emergency medical services, advanced care paramedicine, and community paramedicine to 800,000 residents across 56 municipalities in Quebec's Montérégie region under exclusive CISSS government contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (62191), Ambulance Services (621910), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Providers (TLAFAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Facility-Based Patient Transport (Hospitals, SNFs, Dialysis Centers) (TLAFAKAG), Emergency / On-Demand Respite Care (HSABAGAD)

Keywords

• Emergency ambulance services
• Prehospital medical care
• Advanced life support
• Community paramedicine
• Patient transport services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-bruno-de-montarville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Contracts: CETAM operates as a public emergency service funded through contracts with CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre and CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest. The organization receives government investment for providing pre-hospital emergency care to the population of Montérégie.
2. Patient Transport Fees: Fees charged to patients for ambulance transport: $125.00 + $1.75 per km for Canadian residents, $400.00 + $1.75 per km for non-residents. Some exemptions apply (road accidents, social assistance, workplace injuries, hospital transfers, 65+ seniors).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CETAM is a paramedic cooperative providing pre-hospital emergency medical services, advanced life support interventions, and patient transport across 56 municipalities in the Montérégie region of Quebec. Operating from six casernes with a fleet of approximately 80 emergency vehicles, the cooperative responds to over 82,000 calls annually and offers specialized programs including advanced care paramedics (PSA), community paramedicine for elderly patients, and hospital service loan staffing under a ministerial decree.

Product overview

CETAM (Coopérative des techniciens ambulanciers de la Montérégie) is an emergency ambulance cooperative providing prehospital care across Montérégie, Quebec. The organization operates a unified service model combining emergency ambulance transport with advanced care capabilities, community paramedicine programs, and specialized support services. Core offerings include standard ambulance services, advanced care paramedic (PSA) interventions, and community paramedicine for elderly patients. Supplementary services encompass an intervention dog program (Spéro), automated CPR equipment deployment, and community outreach. The cooperative serves approximately 800,000 residents across 56 municipalities with 500+ members operating from 6 stations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Ambulance Services Prehospital emergency ambulance services providing patient transport and emergency medical care across 56 municipalities covering 2,700 square kilometers in the Montérégie region of Quebec.
• Advanced Care Paramedic Services (PSA) Advanced life support services delivered by specialized paramedics who can perform critical interventions before hospital arrival including ECG interpretation, IV/IO medication administration, manual defibrillation, external cardiac stimulation, and cardioversion.
• Community Paramedicine (Paramédecine de régulation) Alternative care pathway for patients 65+ where community paramedics visit callers who may not need emergency transport, coordinating with home support services and medical guard to provide appropriate care or arrange alternative follow-up within 24 hours; avoided 54% of emergency transports in first six months.
• Hospital Service Loans Paramedic staffing services where CETAM paramedics are deployed to hospitals under ministerial decree, allowing primary care paramedics to apply their protocols in emergency departments and advanced care paramedics to practice their full scope during inter-facility transfers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54% reduction in emergency transports for elderly patients through community paramedicine program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Service incendie Pincourt & Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-PerrotminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Fire service collaboration allowing CETAM paramedics to use fire station facilities when assigned to that deployment point between interventions. Improves paramedic comfort and response times.
• Service incendie RigaudminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Fire service collaboration for deployment optimization, allowing paramedics to shelter in fire stations between calls.
• Service incendie St-LazareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Fire service collaboration for deployment optimization, allowing paramedics to shelter in fire stations between calls.
• Les Chiens TOGOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2022TOGO intervention dog organization founded in 2015 by Noémie Labbé-Roy (psychoeducation and psychology graduate). Provides Spéro, a Golden Retriever therapy dog, specifically trained for 8 weeks for CETAM's emergency service environment. Dog assists during emotional debriefing sessions with social workers following traumatic calls. Multidisciplinary team includes psychosocial workers, canine educators, veterinarians, teachers, and scientific researchers.
• Julie Nadeau (Travailleur social)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2019Social worker, trainer, and speaker specializing in trauma and PTSD. Delivered 4-hour training on psychosocial risks and post-traumatic stress prevention to nearly 400 paramedics. Provides ongoing debriefing support services.
• Collège John AbbottminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2019Donated operational ambulance to the only English-language prehospital emergency care program in Quebec, supporting student training. Program has 100+ students annually.
• Psychologie du SuroîtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPsychology practice providing priority access to psychologist and social worker services for paramedics, specializing in PTSD treatment and trauma support.
• Centre Hospitalier Charles-LeMoynecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital partnered on Lucas automated CPR device deployment after seeing CETAM's success. CETAM clinical team provided training to hospital shock room staff. Collaborative research with UQTR.
• Caisses DesjardinsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBanking partner for bill payment services (Accès D - Payer une facture/Nom de l'organisation: Technicien/Catégorie: Coopératives).
• CISSS de la Montérégie-CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health authority managing all prehospital services in Montérégie. Contracting partner for CETAM emergency services and co-developer of community paramedicine project.
• CISSS de la Montérégie-OuestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health authority partnering with CETAM for hospital service loan deployments and emergency services coordination.
• Halte du coin (Grand Longueuil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomelessness organization supported through CETAM dans la rue community outreach program, receiving blankets, clothing donations, and financial support.
• L'Élan des jeunes (Châteauguay)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization supported through CETAM dans la rue community outreach program.
• Pacte de rue (Valleyfield)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreet youth organization supported through CETAM dans la rue community outreach program.
• Carrefour pour elle (Longueuil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic violence shelter receiving support through CETAM dans la rue program 2021 edition.
• La Re-source (Châteauguay)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic violence shelter receiving support through CETAM dans la rue program 2021 edition.
• L'accueil pour elle (Valleyfield)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic violence shelter receiving support through CETAM dans la rue program 2021 edition.
• Fondation du Centre Jeunesse de la MontérégieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partnering for CETAM dans la rue 2022 edition supporting 80 DPJ children with Christmas gifts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Commissionaires: A Canadian not-for-profit security and protective services organization with cooperative-like governance elements serving government and institutional clients. Comparable to CETAM via its cooperative-style governance and government-contract-driven model, though in security rather than medical transport.
• Gardaworld (GardaWorld Security): Large Canadian security and cash-in-transit company where CETAM CEO Martin Benoit previously oversaw 1,200+ unionized employees. Tangentially comparable as a Canadian contract-services and security/logistics operator with significant government client base.

Regional players

• Ornge: Ontario's provider of air ambulance and critical care transport services, contracted by the provincial government. Comparable to CETAM as a provincial-level government-contracted medical transport provider, though focused on air medical rather than ground ambulance.
• Groupe Dessercom: One of Quebec's largest private ambulance and medical transport operators providing emergency, non-emergency, and inter-facility transport services across multiple Quebec regions. Comparable to CETAM in core ambulance delivery but with a private (not cooperative) structure and broader multi-region footprint.

Broad incumbents

• American Medical Response (AMR): One of the largest private ambulance and mobile healthcare services companies in the U.S., serving communities via municipal contracts. Comparable to CETAM in operating contracted 911 ambulance services for regional populations, though at much larger scale and under private corporate (rather than cooperative) ownership.
• Acadian Ambulance Service: A large U.S.-based private ambulance and air medical transport provider operating across multiple states with government and institutional contracts. Comparable to CETAM as a multi-state/multi-region EMS provider with broad service mix spanning emergency, non-emergency, and specialized transport.
• Falck Ambulance: An international ambulance and healthcare services operator with significant government and municipal contracts across Europe and the Americas. Comparable to CETAM in operating contracted emergency and non-emergency medical transportation at regional scale under regulated frameworks.
• Medavie Health Services (Emergency Medical Care Inc.): The largest private ambulance operator in Atlantic Canada and a major Canadian EMS provider, managing contracts with provincial governments. Comparable to CETAM in contracting with provincial health authorities for prehospital services, though at a much larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Urgences-santé: The public ambulance service for Greater Montreal and Laval, responding to 911 calls with advanced life support paramedics. It is CETAM's closest direct counterpart within the broader Montreal/Quebec ecosystem, operating in an adjacent (and overlapping) territory with the same core mission of prehospital emergency response.
• Paramédic Unis (Coopérative de solidarité des paramédics du Québec): Another Quebec paramedic cooperative structure providing prehospital services under regional contracts. Direct peer to CETAM given similar cooperative ownership and Quebec-government contract base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cetamservicesambulanciers7443
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmbulanceCETAM
• Instagraminstagram.com/ambulancescetam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cetam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CETAM