History

City-wide ambulance service was originally introduced by the city's police service (Service de police de la Ville de Montréal) in 1958. Many of the suburban municipalities followed Montréal's lead. Island-wide service was provided when police services were centralized under the Montreal Urban Community in 1970. By the late 1970s, however, police ambulance training and equipment had fallen behind contemporary standards and the service was finally withdrawn in 1983.
Urgences Santé was created in December 1981 by forming a centralized dispatch system for the region's 25 privately-owned ambulance services. The original full name was Centre de Coordination des Urgences Santé. As part of the program, a single telephone number for EMS – 842-4242 – was introduced for the entire island of Montreal (and the island of Laval). All private services were forced to use Urgences Santé for dispatch and later, billing. The contracting companies were paid to have ambulances available and also paid on a per-call basis. Consolidation of the private companies and formation of a militant labour organization caused much instability including a strike c. 1986.
In 1989 following the transfer of ambulance service to the health and social services department, the system was re-organized.

Organization

There are 1,299 personnel working for the service:
7 advanced-care paramedics (Level III)
50 dispatchers
816 Paramedics (Level I)
118 office staff
139 unclassified staff
105 support staff

Operations

The operations are divided into geographical operations:
East (Est) – St-Léonard
West (Ouest) – Lasalle
North (Nord) – Laval
The operations HQ is in Montreal.

Fleet

The city's ambulances are recognized by their distinctive bright yellow colour.
138 ambulances – Type III Ford E450 and Type II Ford E150
13 supervisor cars – Ford Crown Victoria
13 service vehicles
1 mobile command unit
1 media relations vehicle
1 community relations vehicle
8 other