Thunder Bay family donates new defibrillators to city police

A Thunder Bay couple's philanthropic efforts are a matter of the heart.

Long-time volunteer Diane Watson and her retired entrepreneur husband Ron recently worked with the Thunder Bay Community Foundation to purchase several defibrillators for the Thunder Bay Police Service.

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Ron Watson said he learned about the need for defibrillators in police cars when he spoke with Superior North EMS Chief Norm Gale.

"I have huge respect for EMS and police," he said. "The defibrillators in police cars will give those in cardiac crisis a better chance at survival." 

The machines cost $3,000 each, and the Watsons helped provide enough funding for eight of them. Six will be used in the field; the other two will be used for training.

The Thunder Bay Police Service will send out the defibrillators with police officers. Superior North EMS and Dr. Andrew Affleck provided the medical and technical training for the officers.

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This is not the first time the Watsons have been involved in helping first responders. The couple also spearheaded two bursaries at Lakehead University for students involved in emergency services. Ron Watson told CBC he and his wife want to give something back to the community they love.

"Our philosophy is "pay it forward," he said. "How [do] you repay us? You teach somebody else what we taught you, or you help somebody else the way we've helped you. And we want nothing back."

For Diane Watson, today's announcement hits closer to home: both her parents died from heart attacks. 

"If we can help somebody enhance themselves, that's the purpose of life as far as I'm concerned." she said.