Ambulance Paramedics Of BC

What Ambulance Paramedics Of BC does

Ambulance Paramedics of BC (APBC), legally known as Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of B.C., C.U.P.E. Local 873/873-02, is a labor union representing over 6,000 ambulance paramedics, emergency medical call-takers, and dispatchers across British Columbia, Canada. Its membership is employed almost exclusively by the British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), the provincial Crown agency responsible for ambulance dispatch and prehospital emergency care across BC. APBC serves as the BC chapter of the Paramedic Association of Canada and operates under the umbrella of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), one of Canada's largest labor organizations. The union is headquartered in Richmond, BC, and is governed by an elected Provincial Executive Board.

APBC operates a portfolio of member services and public-facing programs rather than commercial products. Core offerings include collective bargaining representation with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC), a member portal for account management and resource access, professional liability insurance available for purchase by non-members, mental health and wellness support including Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and the Honour House program providing free interim accommodation for families of injured first responders. On the public side, APBC runs a public education department featuring the Bearamedic mascot for child safety programs, seasonal public service announcements, and community event participation supporting charities including Variety BC, CKNW Kids' Fund, and the BC Children's Hospital Foundation.

APBC's revenue is derived from member dues paid by paramedics and emergency dispatchers through their employment with BCEHS. The organization advocates for expanded scope of practice for members, including portable ultrasound use and administration of additional life-saving medications, and supports community paramedicine initiatives placing paramedics in rural and remote communities to deliver non-emergency care. In 2021, APBC members responded to over 1 million calls for service, an all-time high driven by escalating call volumes (rising from 714,000 in 2018 to over 840,000 in 2021) and the BC toxic drug crisis. The union engages in government relations with provincial and municipal leaders, including annual advocacy at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention, and supports specialized service programs spanning Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR), tactical medical support (ITSU), CBRNE response, infant transport, and Critical Care Paramedicine.

Name

Ambulance Paramedics Of BC

Legal name

Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of B.C., C.U.P.E. Local 873/873-02

Website

https://apbc.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ambulance Paramedics of BC (CUPE Local 873) is a labor union representing over 6,000 ambulance paramedics and emergency dispatchers employed by British Columbia Emergency Health Services. The union conducts collective bargaining with HEABC, delivers member benefits, and runs public safety education across British Columbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Representation for Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (621910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAGAC

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response & EMS Coordination

SECONDARYHLAFANAK

Dispatch, Communications & Medical Control Centers (PSAP/ECC)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Emergency Medical Services

SECONDARYBPAKAFAJ

Emergency Dispatch Center Services (PSAP/911 Support, Private Dispatch)

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Alarm Monitoring & Emergency Dispatch Services

SECONDARYHLAFANAG

Event Medical Services & Standby Coverage

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Emergency Medical Services

Keywords

• Labor union representation
• Emergency medical services
• Paramedic advocacy
• Collective bargaining services
• Prehospital emergency care

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Dues: APBC is a union organization (CUPE Local 873/873-02) funded through membership dues paid by paramedics and emergency dispatchers. Dues collection is referenced in the Privacy Policy as one of the purposes for collecting personal information.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ambulance Paramedics of BC (CUPE Local 873/873-02) is a non-profit labor union that represents approximately 4,500–6,000+ ambulance paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers employed by BC Emergency Health Services. Its core service is collective bargaining and member representation with the Health Employers Association of BC, augmented by member benefits such as liability insurance, mental health and Critical Incident Stress Management support, the Honour House accommodation program, and public safety education and community paramedicine advocacy.

Product overview

Ambulance Paramedics of BC (CUPE Local 873) is a union organization representing approximately 4,500-6,000 paramedics and emergency dispatchers across British Columbia. The organization operates a membership portal for union communications and member services, and advocates for public safety through various programs. The APBC offers member benefits including liability insurance and Honour House accommodation support, while their members provide emergency medical services across six levels of paramedic care (from Emergency Medical Responder to Critical Care Paramedic), along with specialized services such as HUSAR, tactical support (ITSU), CBRNE response, infant transport, community paramedicine, and event medical coverage. The organization also operates 24/7 emergency medical dispatch services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Member Portal & Account Management Online member portal for APBC union members to manage accounts, access resources, view news, and handle union-related documentation.
• Collective Bargaining & Member Representation Core labor union service representing BC paramedics and emergency dispatchers in collective bargaining with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and in workplace advocacy with BCEHS.
• Paramedic Liability Insurance Liability insurance program available for purchase by APBC members and non-members, providing professional liability coverage for paramedics.
• Mental Health & Wellness Support Program Mental health and wellness program for APBC members, including Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), peer support resources, and ongoing legislative advocacy for mental health support.
• Public Safety Education Programs Public safety education programs including Bearamedic mascot appearances, school visits, community event participation, and awareness campaigns covering emergency preparedness, pedestrian safety, fall prevention, and other public safety topics.
• Community Paramedicine Initiative Community paramedicine program placing paramedics in rural and remote communities to provide non-emergency care, preventative medicine, and healthcare education, aimed at reducing 911 calls and emergency room visits.
• Honour House Program Partnership with Honour House Society providing free interim accommodation for families of Canadian Forces and first responders while members receive care in Metro Vancouver.
• Public Safety Initiatives Public safety initiatives including public service announcements, awareness campaigns, and advocacy for safer communities across British Columbia.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million ambulance responses delivered in 2021 — an all-time high, up from 714,000 in 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC)coreOthers · 6 January 2023HEABC is the bargaining agent for the provincial government in negotiations with APBC. A new three-year collective agreement was reached on January 6, 2023 and ratified by members on February 14, 2023 with a 96.1% yes vote.
• British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCEHS is the provincial agency providing emergency medical services across BC. APBC represents paramedics and dispatchers employed by BCEHS. The two organizations engage in collective bargaining, collaborative initiatives on staffing and resource allocation, community paramedicine expansion, and ongoing dialogue on working conditions and patient care standards.
• Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPBC is the BC Chapter of the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC), the professional voice and advocacy body for paramedics nationally.
• BCAS 10-7 AssociationminorOthersThe BCAS 10-7 Association represents retired paramedics. APBC maintains a link to this organization on its website as part of its programs section.
• Honour House SocietyminorOthersHonour House Society is an independent registered charity providing free interim accommodation for families of Canadian Forces and first responders (ambulance, fire, law enforcement) receiving care in Metro Vancouver. APBC is proud to be associated with Honour House Society and promotes donation drives for this cause.
• CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees)coreOthersAPBC operates as CUPE Local 873/873-02 under the umbrella of CUPE, one of Canada's largest unions. CUPE provides organizational support, collective bargaining assistance, and represents public sector workers across Canada.
• Variety – The Children's Charity of BCminorOthersAPBC supports and participates in Variety – The Children's Charity of BC events including the Show of Hearts Telethon and Boat for Hope.
• CKNW Kids' FundminorOthersAPBC participates in CKNW Kids' Fund events including Pledge Day and Pink Shirt Day.
• BC Children's Hospital FoundationminorOthersAPBC participates in the BC Children's Hospital Foundation's Festival of Trees.
• Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation / Paramedic RideminorOthersAPBC participates in the annual Paramedic Ride across BC to raise funds for a national monument in Ottawa commemorating paramedics who have died in the line of duty. BC paramedics have participated in bike rides from Osoyoos to Kamloops.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC): National professional body of which APBC is the BC chapter; comparable in advocating for paramedic scope of practice, professional standards, and national policy.
• BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU): BC's largest public-sector union representing a broad range of government and health employees; comparable as another major BC-based public-sector labor organization that occasionally intersects with health-service bargaining units.
• OPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employees Union) - Paramedic Division: Represents Ontario paramedics in collective bargaining with the provincial employer; mirrors APBC's structure and mandate as a labor union for EMS workers in another Canadian province.
• Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA): Alberta's union representing paramedics, emergency dispatchers, and allied health professionals; directly comparable as a provincial EMS labor union bargaining with a single health employer.

Emerging players

• National Association of EMTs (NAEMT): US professional association for EMS practitioners with advocacy, education, and standards functions; comparable as a professional association supporting paramedics, though more education-focused than labor-focused.

Broad incumbents

• CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees): APBC's parent union and Canada's largest labor union; comparable as the broader institutional umbrella providing collective bargaining infrastructure, legal support, and political advocacy across public-sector workers.
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare: Large North American healthcare union with broad representation; comparable as a larger healthcare labor organization that overlaps in member type (healthcare workers) and advocacy (wages, mental health, staffing).

Others

• International Union of Police Associations (IUPA): Labor union for police officers and first responders in the US; adjacent as a public-safety labor organization addressing similar presumptive-mental-health and staffing issues, though in a different first-responder vertical.
• Vancouver Fire Fighters Union (IAFF Local 18): Represents BC fire-rescue personnel with overlapping presumptive-PTSD, mental-health, and collective-bargaining issues; adjacent as a BC-based first-responder union, though fire-specific rather than paramedic-specific.

Regional players

• International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP): US-based labor union representing EMS professionals; comparable in mandate and structure, though operating in a different geography and regulatory framework than BC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apbc873
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=AQzrrMkew_U&t=1s
• Facebookfacebook.com/APBC873
• Instagraminstagram.com/APBC873
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apbc873

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ambulance Paramedics Of BC