The objective of this research was to study the operation of the ambulance service in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Attention has been focused on operational policies which affect the system's ability to respond to calls, especially to emergency calls. The stated objective was accomplished by first reviewing the current demand for emergency ambulance services and the present operations. Next deterministic models were investigated and used to give "initial" locations of depots. Finally a computer simulation model was developed and used to conduct experiments, examining alternative ambulance systems. This research revealed that 1. computer simulation is an effective tool for analysing ambulance systems, and 2. there is a need for more emergency ambulance services, including more paramedics, in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate