When you hear an emergency response vehicle speeding up behind you with its sirens ablazin’, it’s very likely Scott Rowland had a hand in making it loud enough to get your attention.
For decades, Rowland has been a market leader in Ontario’s emergency response vehicle industry that sees his Toronto-based company bring in about $4-million worth of business annually.
It all began with fixing an ambulance in 1977 at age 19 while working at his father Grant’s auto-electric business in Mimico fixing alternators, starters, ignition systems, batteries, wiring and the like.
“The Ministry of Health said they needed a good electrician to repair an electrical issue on an ambulance,’’ Rowland says. “I got this ambulance to work on. I fixed it. The ministry wanted it done right, using the right materials. My dad had taught me well. Do it once and do it right.’’
Then the ministry came back with another request: “Can you do some warranty work on ambulances for the manufacturers?’’
From that modest beginning, Rowland Emergency Vehicle Products has become a fixture in Ontario’s emergency medical services (EMS) space, now one of the larger companies specializing in upfitting, modifying, upgrading and customizing vehicles, including those used by Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Services.
An emergency vehicle needs lights, push bumpers, equipment-storage containers, fire extinguishers and console computers, among other specialized customizations, and that’s where Rowland enters the picture.
Rowland’s list of clients expands across Ontario but also in a handful of other provinces, from Muskoka to York to Peel to Durham to Middlesex-London to Renfrew, all the way up to Rainy River near the Manitoba border. Rowland also does work for Ornge, the air-ambulance service, as well as clients in the U.S.
“The municipalities either bring me their cars or purchase them from us to upfit into emergency response vehicles,’’ Rowland says. “Everything we put in the car is tested and engineered. We have our own decal department. We are not just upfitters. We are a partner for paramedic services.
“As industry leaders, we’re constantly forging new paths by creating cutting-edge solutions that address the needs of our customers. Our in-house experts make this possible by developing innovative products and services that protect paramedics and patients in emergency situations.’’
Crestline Coach has the contract to supply ambulances to Toronto EMS and Rowland has been working hand in hand with Crestline for more than four decades. A few years ago, Crestline became a subsidiary of Demers Braun Crestline Medix, the largest ambulance manufacturer in Canada.
“We’ve had a relationship with Crestline for 40-plus years. We do repairs and warranty work for them,’’ says Rowland. “We also have the contract for Toronto Fire Services upfitting — we are responsible for the red Tahoes they drive and the new F-150s the chiefs and deputy chiefs drive.’’
Decibel levels and other standards require inspections and certificates of approval, all of which are produced by the Ministry of Health’s emergency health regulatory and accountability branch.
“It is a very regulated industry with strict standards to comply with,” Rowland said. “These standards are in place to protect paramedics in emergency transport situations and we take this very seriously. We have engineers on staff who regularly do in-house testing to Ministry of Health standards.’’
While Toronto’s fire and paramedic vehicles are modified by Rowland, the Toronto Police Service doesn’t contract out its 1,864 vehicles for customizing. Toronto Police Operations media relations officer Viktor Sarudi confirmed modifying work is done in house by its own employees.
Although it is funded by the city of Toronto, the Toronto Police Service is a government body operating on its own, and is considered a “service agency and is operationally separate.’’ Officials in the fleet department declined to comment for this piece.
Over in east Oshawa on a corner lot seconds from Highway 401 is as unusual sighting: some 400 utility vehicles with no signage that look all too familiar and all the same.
They are utility vehicles awaiting customizing by Kerr Industries on Farewell Avenue for use by police, fire and paramedic operations and commercial outlets all across Ontario.
Started in 1952, Kerr has its headquarters in the U.S. with five plants south of the border. Kerr’s Oshawa location is its only Canadian operation. A Ministry of Health official told the Star that Kerr, MSJ Automotive of Windsor, Ont., and Battleshield Industries of Vars near Ottawa are also certified emergency response vehicle manufacturers in the province — along with Rowland.
“We have many other competitors in the EMS space,’’ Rowland said.
Blair Schofield, general manager of Kerr’s Oshawa plant, declined to speak with the Star for this piece, saying he wasn’t interested in any publicity.
According to the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), Kerr is one of the current vendors the service uses to modify vehicles with police-specific equipment. Several other companies customize some of the 429 vehicles the service has in its fleet.
“DRPS uses a variety of vehicles that are designated by the manufacturer to include a police package,’’ a Durham Regional Police Service spokesman said. “These include Tahoes from GM, as well as models from Ford and Dodge (Stellantis).’’
As for Rowland, he said his company of 48 employees is built for the long run, saying it’s “a marathon, not a sprint.’’
“We’re a third-generation family business’’ said Rowland, who has been with the company for 47 years. “It’s nice to be in my shoes to operate the business and know my son Blake is going to take over and will run it for 30-plus more years. I’m not winding down my career.
“EMS is my specialty. I’m not straying from it.’’
