Honourable senators, I rise today to recognize the remarkable contributions of Drs. James and Leslie Rourke, who are global leaders in rural family medicine. It is also, fittingly, Paramedic Services Week, underscoring the essential principles of collaborative, interdisciplinary and team-based care in rural medicine. Thank you to our paramedics for your integral role in health care, and let me in particular acknowledge Paul Hills, President of the Saskatoon Paramedic Association, for his team’s ongoing advocacy.

The Rourkes began their career in picturesque Goderich, Ontario, where they practised for 25 years. Their practice became a primary rural family medicine teaching site at Western University. Led by Dr. Leslie Rourke, and later supported by Dr. Denis Leduc, they established the Rourke Baby Record, which many Canadian health care professionals use for well‑infant and child visits from 1 week to 5 years.

I had the privilege of working with the Rourkes after Jim became a dean at Memorial University and Leslie joined their family medicine faculty. Together, they catalyzed significant changes in my province by establishing rural academic sites and a longitudinal curriculum, exposing students to rural and remote rotations and team-based care outside of urban centres.

Jim spearheaded a state-of-the-art expansion of the Faculty of Medicine building, expanded the undergrad curriculum and established a teaching hub in Nunavut. His rural upbringing fostered a lifelong advocacy for rural medicine and research. Both Leslie and Jim have received numerous national and international awards, and continue to influence academia, policy and generalist care.

Under Jim’s tenure as dean, Memorial University received the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada’s Keith Award three times for having the most graduates practising in rural areas and, furthermore, the Rural Medicine Award for the most postgraduates choosing family medicine — a legacy to Jim Rourke’s ideals and vision.

I will always be grateful for the opportunities the Rourkes provided me in developing an expanded rural academic program in my province. Once, at an international rural conference in Croatia, I had to step in for Jim, who was called out for an emergency. I was accidentally introduced to the large audience as Dr. Jim Rourke — to thunderous applause. While I temporarily basked in his glory, it was quite the transition returning to plain old Mohamed at the end of the day.

The Rourkes are proud parents to Patrick, Ryan, Shannon and Rosie.

Please join Senators Marshall, Wells, Petten, Manning, White and me in saluting their remarkable careers and selfless devotion to the well-being of Canadians across our nation. Thank you. Meegwetch.