Paramedic petition fails to change folk fest first aid procedures

Paramedics will not be stationed at Winnipeg Folk Festival this year despite a petition calling on the summer festival to enhance its on-site medical services.

Freya Martin launched the online petition, which has gained more than 1,300 signatures, after experiencing a life-threatening asthma attack during the 2025 festival at Birds Hill Provincial Park.

After reviewing the incident, the festival determined changes to its first aid procedures were not necessary.

“I’m disappointed; I thought maybe my situation would’ve changed things for this year,” Martin said upon learning of the decision.

The Winnipeg nurse experienced an asthma attack during the opening night of the festival, during which air quality was poor owing to heavy wildfire smoke.

The festival’s first aid tent was not equipped with supplemental oxygen and Martin lost consciousness while waiting for EMS to arrive, reportedly 25 minutes after 911 was called.

She was transported to Selkirk Regional Health Centre, located about 25 kilometres north of the park.

“In consultation with experts and partners, we reviewed our procedures and confirmed that Standard First Aid remains the most appropriate model for our event,” festival executive director Valerie Shantz said in an emailed statement.

Volunteers in the festival’s two first aid tents are required to hold standard first aid certification, which includes training in minor injury care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

In the event of a serious injury or illness, volunteers are trained to contact EMS.

There are no paramedics or ambulances stationed at the festival during the four-day event.

“An ambulance stationed at the festival would need to remain on site and would not be available to transport patients to the hospital. Ambulances would still need to be dispatched through EMS to provide transport for anyone requiring hospital care,” Shantz said in the statement.

“I thought maybe my situation would’ve changed things for this year.”

Martin reached out to the festival with her concerns but declined an offer to meet with staff in person. She will be attending the festival this year.

“It’s my daughter’s birthday and that’s what she wants to do. So I’m going to go, but I have very mixed feelings about supporting them,” Martin said through tears, adding she and her husband plan to drive to the nearest hospital if anything happens this year.

The festival, which opens Thursday, is sold out, with 15,000 people expected to attend daily. Temperatures are forecast to hit 36 C on Sunday.

“I just hope that no one suffers this weekend and needs help and can’t get it,” Martin says.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com