Josh Klukie
Memorial Award - Currently @ $17,100 (April 2012) Award is based on interest generated during year on capital amount.

Private Josh Klukie was a Canadian soldier from Thunder Bay that in 2006 was killed in action in Afghanistan. Josh graduated from the paramedic program at Confederation College and was well known to our Thunder Bay paramedics. Josh was very athletic and intelligent, had a great personality, and always lived in Northern Ontario. In order to keep the spirit that Josh had alive, Devin Doran, a Thunder Bay paramedic, has started a memorial fund in Josh's memory.

The annual bursary will be given to one second year paramedic student at Confederation College who best exemplified what Josh stood for in life. Once this fund reaches $5,000, the Ontario government will match it. To keep this fund alive and make it grow all donations will be added to this principle. Each year as the fund gets bigger it will be reflected in the award.

Donations may be sent to:
Josh Klukie Memorial Award
Financial Aid Office
Confederation College
1450 Nakina Drive
Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5K7

Receipts will be issued for any donation over $10.00

2011 Josh Klukie Award Winner is Jesse J. Kiviluoma

Hello, my name is Jesse Kiviluoma recent recipient of the Josh Klukie award. I would like to start by saying that I am very appreciative and honoured to receive such an award, also I would like to thank  Devon Doran a local paramedic who was one of the original founders of the award. Last but not least before I begin I would like to thank the Paramedic Program coordinator Don Benedict, the teaching staff of the Paramedic Program, the faculty at Confederation College as well as my peers and classmates for facilitating my continued success.

                I was born in Thunder Bay ON, and have spent most of my life in northern Ontario primarily in Kakabeka Falls. I currently live with my dad, step mom and step sister  on the Fort William side of Thunder Bay. I also have two other brothers and two sisters who live all over Canada. I graduated from Westgate C.V.I. where I was a member of the soccer and cross country running teams, as well as being involved in many intramural sports. After graduation I attended Cambrian College in Sudbury ON, where I obtained a certificate in Pre-Health Sciences and from there was accepted to Confederation College to the paramedic program. The paramedic program has been one of the best experiences of my life and this award is definitely the “cherry on top” so to speak. As a student at Confederation College in my first year I was fortunate enough to have second year students to help tutor me and set a foundation for the 4.0 grade point average I obtained this year. The success I gained through learning with my tutors inspired me to also tutor in my second year, helping students to set their foundation and to achieve the same success I have encountered. My life at Confederation College has not been all in the classroom, I like to participate in many activities and sports which are put on by our SUCCI board. These events include but are definitely not limited too soccer, hockey, basketball etc. When I am not at school and in the summer time my activities usually include going to the gym, playing baseball or any recreational sport and a lot of fishing, all while in the company of good friends.

                For the future, I have set many goals, achieving the goals that I set is and always has been very important to me.  For the near future my goals are the same as my classmates finish the program, pass my A-EMCA and get employment, all while improving my patient care skills. My long term goals are to move forward in EMS and to help EMS move forward. Not work related I would eventually like to start a family and settle down in northern Ontario…not too soon though.

Note From Don Benedict (Coordinator Thunder Bay Campus):

Congratulations Jesse on winning this award and on behalf of Jessica Dykes (Coordinator of Paramedic Regional Campuses), Joe Cordeiro (Associate Dean) and Kathleen Lynch (Dean of Health Sciences) we all wish you continued success in your career.

Below, is a photograph of Jesse Kiviluoma receiving the Josh Klukie Award 2011 from Don Benedict and Jessica Dykes. 

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