About
About the Show: The Last Wire Podcast
In times of crisis and natural disasters, amateur radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when wireline, cell phones and other conventional means of communication fail. The Last Wire is a podcast that will profile and share these heroic stories of hams who have volunteered their amateur radio knowledge and equipment for communications duty when disaster strikes
About the Host: John Bignell
![John Bignell](http://lastwire.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/johnbignell-e1611322229751-300x300-1.jpg)
John has been featured in and contributed to local and international publications, radio broadcasts, podcasts and has spoken at medical and business conferences throughout North America on various professional topics.
I am an executive member of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club (H.A.R.C.VE1FQ), and Radio Amateur of Canada. He also services with the Halifax Auxiliary Telecommunications Service (HATS).
I began my professional career in EMS and have worked for Emergency Health Services Nova Scotia for 27 years as an Advanced Care Paramedic. During my time in EMS, I have had the opportunity to work at the Clinic Support Desk at the EHS Medical Communication Centre. Also being trained as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher – Quality Assurance (EMD-Q) with Priority Dispatch Corporation.
![](http://lastwire.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/paramedic_dispatch-1024x950-1.jpg)
While still in high school I joined the Middleton Fire Department in my hometown, then later on volunteered at the Bay Road Fire Station with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency. As a volunteer I enjoyed a sense of accomplishment, achievement, and pride in the work we did. I got to learn new skills, make new friends, be a part of a team, give back to the community, and make a real difference. For me it wasn’t the rush of racing to the fire, laying our lines, then busting down the front door to attack the inferno, it was the time I spent with the department’s medical rescue team and treating injured or exhausted firefighters when I realized I wanted to be a part of pre-hopsital medicine as a Paramedic.
![Middleton Fire Department](http://lastwire.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/middleton_fire-1024x509.jpg)