First responders in York Region become comic super heroes in new project

Heroes of the World collaborated with OPP, Central York Fire Services and York Region Paramedic Services

 

Yorkregion.com
April 19, 2018
Laura Finley

There are super heroes right here in York Region.

They save lives, help the community and fight crime.

But they don’t wear tights, masks, or have colourful costumes. They are first responders.

“Heroes don’t have to wear capes or armour,” said Joseph Osei Bonsi, co-founder and illustrator at Heroes of the World, a Toronto based company that creates international super heroes and comics.

Heroes of the World recently collaborated with OPP, Central York Fire Services (CYFS) and York Region Paramedic Services to create a promotional handout comic book poster.

It features a diverse group of paramedics, police and firefighters along with some of the Canadian characters from Heroes of the World.

OPP provincial Const. Clayton Brown said the purpose of the handout is to demonstrate teamwork, inclusion and diversity, and to engage youth.

He first got the idea for the project while he was at the Mississauga ComiCon this past fall. He saw Heroes of the World at one of the booths.

“If you saw their display it is very striking,” said Brown, who added he was caught by the diversity and their global characters.

“I work with recruiting so from that perspective, all of a sudden the wheels started turning,” he said. “In terms of our hiring we want to reflect the communities we serve.”

He reached out to CYFS and York Region Paramedic Services to work on this project.

“To be honest, I don’t think I had to make much of a sales pitch,” said Brown. “We’re always looking for ways to engage.”

The first responders were able to ensure accuracy of the project, and it was a way for them to collaborate. 

“Through partnerships and working together, we actually end up with something bigger than if we were to try and do something on our own,” he said. “Which is what this is all about.”

And for first responders, teamwork is important because there are so many situations where police, paramedics and firefighters respond to the same call.

“It is a partnership. We do work together,” said Brown.

“We are one team,” added Jennifer Baker, fire and life safety educator with CYFS, who added the poster is a great educational resource.

Heroes of the World and the OPP were recently at the ComiCon in Toronto with their poster, and Brown said the response so far has been huge.

“They love this,” he said.

He said comics are a way to reach a wide range of people.

“I can give this to a young kid and they think it is cool and I can give this to a teenager and it is still cool,” he said. “I’m middle aged, I still think it is cool.”

They are planning a local launch at the Newmarket Community Centre on June 23.

The artists and first responders are also planning to collaborate for another comic poster to be released next fall. It will show the first responders doing different aspects of their professions.

For more information about Heroes of the World visit theheroesoftheworld.com