201-4 Florence St.
Ottawa ON K2P 0W7
Keynote Speakers
Kaleb Dahlgren
From a young age, Kaleb had no choice but to be resilient. His hockey career was threatened before it started by a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes at 4 years old. Kaleb proved his doctors and coaches wrong by going on to play hockey at an elite level. During his career, he played for the Humboldt Broncos - a team that made national news when their bus collided with a transport truck, taking the lives of 16 and leaving 13 survivors, many with lifelong injuries. Kaleb is one of the survivors. Once recovered, Kaleb returned to the ice to play for York University. While at York, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce and graduated as Valedictorian, Magna Cum Laude and Varsity Athletics Male Graduate of the Year in April 2021. Kaleb is studying to become a Chiropractic Doctor. Kaleb is dedicated to helping others. He is the founder of Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, a mentorship program designed in 2017 to give back to children with Type 1 Diabetes. Kaleb is also the recipient of the Canadian Volunteer Award for Emerging Leader of the Prairies, the National JDRF Young Volunteer of the Year award and dozens of other accolades. He is a bestselling author for his memoir, Crossroads. In the face of insurmountable odds, he shows us that through perseverance you can do anything.
Jody Wilson-Raybould
Former Member of Parliament | Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C., was raised to be a leader. The daughter of a hereditary chief and Indigenous leader, she always knew that she would seek leadership roles and responsibilities. As a lawyer, an advocate, and a leader among Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, she’s built a strong reputation as a bridge builder and champion of good governance and accountability. She shares her unique perspective as both a community and political leader on topics such as Indigenous rights and reconciliation, democracy and governance, leadership, and justice. Wilson-Raybould was first elected as a Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Vancouver Granville in 2015. She was then appointed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada making her the first Indigenous person to serve in this portfolio. In January 2019, she was appointed the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Canada and Associate Minister of National Defence, positions she held until her resignation from cabinet in February 2019. During the 2019 election, Wilson-Raybould was re-elected as an Independent Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, making her Canada’s first ever female Independent MP elected and the only elected Independent in the 43rd Parliament. Prior to politics, Wilson-Raybould was a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver and served three terms as an elected Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. She was also elected BC Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009, where she devoted herself to the advancement of First Nations governance, fair access to land and resources, as well as improved education and health care services. She served until 2015, holding responsibilities for governance and Nation building on the Assembly of First Nations Executive. Wilson-Raybould is a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, which are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw and also known as the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation with her traditional name, Puglaas, means “woman born to noble people.” She served two terms as an elected councillor for her Nation and was also a director and chair of the First Nations Finance Authority and a director of the First Nations Lands Advisory Board. In 2021, Wilson-Raybould released her memoir "Indian" in the Cabinet, which became a #1 national bestseller and was a finalist for The Writers' Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy. She is also the author of From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada.
Kevin Vickers
Mr. Vickers enjoyed a successful 29-year-long career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), attaining the rank of Chief Superintendent. With the RCMP, Mr. Vickers was called upon to successfully lead high-profile investigations, including homicides, national criminal investigations, and international drug importations. As Director-General for the National Contract Policing Branch of the RCMP he led the Canadian police community in developing a National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet. This initiative resulted in $45 million of federal funding and the creation of a National Centre of Expertise. Mr. Vickers was appointed Director of Security Operations for the House of Commons in June 2005. He was soon after appointed as Sergeant-at-Arms (August 2006-January 2015). There he was responsible—along with a team of over 1,000 employees—for ensuring the security of the Parliamentary Precinct, and for operations that supported the functions of Parliament, including: building management (30 buildings), food services, transportation, printing and mailing services, and for facilitating the requirements of the National Press Gallery. Mr. Vickers was also responsible for the implementation of the Long-Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct Services. He was hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada’s parliamentarians, and other prominent Canadian and international figures for his actions in stopping the October 2014 attack at the Parliament of Canada. Mr. Vickers was appointed as the Ambassador of Canada to Ireland in January 2015 and served in Ireland until March 2019. Upon his return from Ireland, Mr. Vickers became the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party and served in that role until September of 2020. Mr. Vickers was born and raised in Newcastle, New Brunswick. He studied at St. Francis Xavier University and the University of Calgary. Mr. Vickers has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees, Master of Laws, from both Mount Allison University and the University of Regina. Mr. Vickers is the recipient of the Star of Courage, the Order of New Brunswick, Queen's Jubilee Medal, the Canada 125 Medal, and the RCMP Long Service Medal. He has also been recognized by the Community of Burnt Church for his outstanding service to their community, and by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency for his “Outstanding Contribution to Drug Enforcement.”
Elder Mary Lee
Elder Mary Lee is from Pelican Lake, in northern Saskatchewan. A hard working individual, Mary has always tried to daily follow cultural ways and teachings. She is connected to the land, and speaks Cree fluently. Blessed to have a mother who could not speak English, she learned so much from her for language and traditions. Mary was an integral part in the foundation of Wanuskewin Heritage park in the 1980s, providing food for feasts, and building the first tipis to be on site for ceremony regarding the park’s creation. Mary always taught her family that to truly know about the tipi, and learn ceremony, you have to build it from the ground including finding the right trees for poles, and processing everything. She has made tipi poles and canvases for years, and does tipi teachings for the Cree style tipi set up, sharing the significance of every pole and part of the tipi. Mary has worked with youth in the school systems and community for over 38 years, and credits them for teaching her how to care and be patient, opening her eyes, and helping her grow. She has strived to live a simple and healthy life, on the land as much as possible.
All Speakers
Alexandra Shemko
Alexandra Shemko is a passionate Paramedic, Educator and Leader. She has emersed herself in paramedicine since 2004. Starting her career in Australia with the New South Wales Ambulance Service, she moved to Canada in 2008 and has been with the British Columbia Emergency Health Services since 2009. Alexandra has been a Paramedic in both rural and metropolitan settings and has provided Paramedic support for expedition adventure races in Canada and Africa. She is currently employed as a Senior Leader of Practice Education in the learning department of BCEHS. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Paramedic Practice, a Post Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education and is currently completing a Master of Paramedicine (Critical Care).
Chelsea Lanos
Chelsea is an Advanced Care and Community Paramedic with the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Ottawa, and recently submitted her dissertation for examination as part of her candidature for an MSc in Critical Care at Cardiff University. Chelsea is a Clinical Research Assistant with The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Clinical Epidemiology program and fellow with the McNally Project for Paramedicine Research. Chelsea is a strong advocate for paramedic led research and her interests are primarily in organ and tissue donation as it relates to the role of paramedics in out-of-hospital death, palliative care and end-of-life care, and the implications of medical ethics on advanced care directives in the paramedic setting.
Dr. Alan Batt
Dr. Alan Batt is a Professor in the Paramedic Programs at Fanshawe College in Ontario, a Scientist with the McNally Project for Paramedicine Research, and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Paramedicine at Monash University in Australia. His program of research explores the competencies required to enact contemporary healthcare practice, the evolving role of paramedics, social determinants of health, and the care of marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Cheryl Cameron
Cheryl Cameron is currently the Director of Operations with Canadian Virtual Hospice. Across her career, she has held leadership, strategic policy, program development and education role. As Faculty with Healthcare Excellence Canada, she provides expertise on integrating palliative pare into paramedicine and is currently supporting numerous parodic services across Canada to do so. She is a PhD student with Monash University, a senior fellow with the McNally Project for Paramedicine Research, and her research interests include palliative care, mentoring, inter-professional/interdisciplinary education, quality and patient safety, health equity, and female leadership.
Chris Naples
Chris has been working as a critical care flight paramedic from, British Columbia, for the past 10 years and a paramedic for the past 26 years. He currently works in the capacity of Paramedic Practice Educator for the flight teams in BC and has recently completed his Masters of Paramedicine through Charles Sturt University in Australia. He has a passion for aviation medicine and the advancement of paramedic practice in Canada. Along with his work he has been a team competitor for paramedic practice and has achieved success on the world stage. In his spare time, he is a family man with a wife and son and enjoys off roading with his friends.
Dugg Steary
Dugg Steary is an experienced clinical leader, educator and researcher working in Vancouver, British Columbia as a Paramedic Practice Leader with BC Emergency Health Services and Lead Educator for the Columbia Paramedic Academy Advanced Care Paramedic program. Combining his medical experience as a Critical Care Paramedic and a Masters degree in Education Technology, Dugg’s primary interest is the purposeful integration of technology into the classroom to enhance the students’ experience through engagement and retention.
Jan Hiebert
Jan’s academic credentials and training accomplishments include a BHSc. In Emergency Pre-hospital Care, an Advanced Care Paramedic diploma, a certificate in Leadership Development Program through the University of Saskatchewan, and the completion of a Comprehensive Medical Simulation Instructor Program through Harvard University and MIT. Jan also holds a certificate in Investigating and Managing Adverse Events through the University of Calgary. She has directed a significant amount of her personal and professional development to improving patient safety and decreasing medical errors. Jan has over 30 years of experience facilitating continuing education for physicians, nurses, paramedics and first responders. Jan’s career includes being a paramedic with MD Ambulance, RUH emergency department, and a flight paramedic with Saskatchewan Air Ambulance.
Janel Swain
Janel is an Advanced Care Paramedic and the Manager of Clinical services with Emergency Health Services Nova Scotia. Before working with EHS, she completed an Honours Degree in Advanced Biology at Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Education at University of Ottawa, and worked with the National Canadian Red Cross office in the Injury Prevention Department. While in Ottawa Janel completed her Primary and Advanced Care Paramedic studies. Janel has fostered innovative methods and content of professional development for paramedics, while providing leadership for the clinical educators within the EHS ground ambulance system. Her efforts were recognized in 2019 as the national recipient of the Paramedic Association of Canada award of Excellence in Education and Training.
Jeffrey Bilyk
Jeffrey started in EMS at a young age as an EMT-B in Michigan. After a hiatus doing dispatching and then work in emergency management, he returned to school for Paramedic education in Ontario. Jeff has worked in both air and land ambulance environments in multiple provinces before settling down in the Region of Waterloo where he currently works as an Acting Supervisor and Advanced Care Paramedic. He also serves as a PCP and ACP preceptor. Jeff has additional roles in Quality Assurance at his Base Hospital program (Centre for Paramedic Education and Research) and as an Inspector for Ministry of Health of Ontario with a primary focus on Ambulance Service Review. He also owns a micro coffee roasting business in SW Ontario.
Jennie Helmer
Jennie has over 29 years of experience working in emergency health services in British Columbia. She began her career with BCEHS as a Primary and Advanced Care Paramedic and since then has held various positions and is now a Director of Operations. Jennie is currently working on her PhD at the School of Population and Public Health at UBC. Jennie is a Sessional Instructor with the Justice Institute of BC and is a journal reviewer with the Australasian Journal of Paramedicine and the Dalhousie Evidence Based Practice program. She has over 15 peer reviewed academic publications. When she’s not working on the family organic potato farm, Jennie is contemplating disruptive innovations in paramedicine and the leadership required to take action in the face of uncertainty.
Leon Baranowski
Leon Baranowski is a registered UK HCPC paramedic, BC ACP and the Director of Clinical and Professional Practice at BCEHS. His team of paramedic practice leaders works closely with clinical operations to identify, develop, and implement new evidenced based models and practices that look to improve patient outcomes, and patient experience which integrates into the broader healthcare system.
Jennifer Bolster
Jennifer Bolster is a Paramedic Practice Leader and Advanced Care Paramedic with BC Emergency Health Services. Her portfolios include substance use, the overdose epidemic, and mental health. She is an avid researcher, and is passionate about organizational culture, paramedic leadership and advocation for holistic models of out-of-hospital care delivery.
Lindsey Boechler
Lindsey Boechler is a researcher with the Centre for Health Research, Innovation and Scholarship at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Prior to her employment at PolyTech, she practiced as an Advanced Care Paramedic across Saskatchewan. She holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University, is a senior fellow with the McNally Project for Paramedicine Research and is a student in the Doctor of Educational Leadership program at the University of Saskatchewan. Lindsey’s research focuses on the experiences of frontline personnel during COVID-19, health system accessibility and navigation supports, and integrating virtual health supports to covey preventative and health promotion information to patients and their families.
John Taplin
John is a community paramedic with Aisokinaipiyokiiks and holds a Master of Science in Community Health Sciences, specializing in health economic, from the University of Calgary. He has worked in paramedic leadership, program development, implementation, and research with special interest in providing services to underserved populations.
Mike Humphrey
Mike has been an Advanced Care Paramedic for 17 years and a Firefighter for 15 years. Mike is currently the EMS Operations Officer at Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Service (LFES). Mike has designed and delivered LFES’ Mass Casualty guidelines and played a prominent role in developing our Active Killer SOG. Mike is the co-leader of the Cardiac Arrest Survivability program at LFES. He was a Flight and Ground Paramedic in Medicine Hat for 2 years prior to joining LFES. He attended Medicine Hat College for his education.
Kevin Palmer
Kevin Palmer is an Advanced Care Paramedic and Paramedic Educator in Banff, Alberta. He has over 25 years of experience in ground and fixed-wing air ambulance in addition to wilderness response across BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. He volunteers in Cave rescue, has worked as the medical lead on many triathlons and has researched and lectured on Swim Induced Pulmonary Edema in the Triathlete. He has presented at numerous conferences in Western Canada, including PACE, and is the founder of the Banff Wilderness Care Conference.
Adam Perrett
Adam Perrett is an Advanced Care Paramedic and Firefighter with more than 20 years of experience. He is the Medical Training Officer for Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES, where he coordinates and plans all EMS training for frontline staff. Adam is an ACLS, BLS, and PALS instructor and a Rescue Diver with the LFES Water Rescue Team. Adam is committed to optimizing patient care outcomes and co-leading the Cardiac Survivability Program implementation in Lethbridge.
Lyon Kengis
Lyon is an Advanced Care Paramedic, Emergency Preparedness and Special Operations specialist, educator, leader, and award-winning researcher. He has dedicated much of his career as a paramedic to creating safe work and care environments for 2SLGBTQ populations. Lyon has advocated for more inclusive documentation, conducted research on trans care, and has worked on design, development, and delivery of education on equitable leadership, 2SLGBTQ emergency care, and trans health. He holds a seat on the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion at EHS and takes great joy in teaching and mentoring the next generation of paramedics as a lead instructor at Medavie HealthEd.
Kris Lane
Kris Lane has been a primary care paramedic since 2014, and her work in equitable care for diverse populations started shortly thereafter. In addition to helping found the Queer and Trans Collaborative Healthcare Committee within EHS, Kris co-presents to every new employee and delivers workshops through their elective education program. She was most recently part of the working group that developed Medavie’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy. Kris is also the founder of JK Health Equity Consultants, which delivers both clinical and non-clinical workshops that are tailored to the group in want of education. Kris is currently the Patient Flow Manager with EHS NS. She holds a BA in Drama and English from Mount Allison University and is currently working on on her MPA at Dalhousie University.
MWO Belanger
Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Cheryl Belanger joined the military in 2003 as a Medical Technician (Med Tech). She has been posted to various locations including, Edmonton, Ottawa, Wainwright, and back to Edmonton, where she currently resides. She has worked in various positions from Clinic Primary Care, Operations and Training, and Company Sergeant Major for multiple medical companies. She has deployed to Afghanistan, CFS Alert, Haiti and Ukraine, as well as many domestic operations. In April of this year, she was newly appointed at the Clinic Sergeant Major at Canadian Armed Forces Health Services Centre Edmonton (CAF HS C Edm).
MWO Morin
Master Warrant Officer Jean-Sebastien Morin joined the Regular Force in Aug 2003 as a Medical Technician (Med Tech) after a few years serving as a Field Artillery man. He held numerous postings throughout his career such as; 5 Field Ambulance 2005-08, Health Services Pacific and HMCS Calgary 2008-10, 1 Cdn Field Hospital 2010-14, 2 Field Ambulance 2014-15, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command 2015-20, Cdn Forces Health Services Group Headquarters 2020-21, Directorate Personnel Generation Requirements 2021-22 and currently back at Headquarters as the Med Tech National Practice Leader and Qualification Standards Development NCO. MWO Morin deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq under various capacities. As the current National Practice leader, he is invested in furthering his occupation through different means such as the Scope of Practice optimization.
MWO Adjum Aimee Randell
Master Warrant Officer Aimee Randell joined the Canadian Armed Forces in Aug 2002 as a Medical Technician (Med Tech). She held numerous postings throughout her career such as; CF H Svcs C (O) (NDMC) 2004-2008, 27 CF H Svcs C Goose Bay 2008-2012, 2 Field Ambulance 2012-2017, 1 Canadian Field Hospital 2017-2021 and currently at CF H Svcs HQ as Med Tech MOSID Advisor. She also backfilled the clinic in Geilenkirchen, Germany for 3 months in 2005, deployed to CFS Alert for a TAV in 2006 and full deployment in 2007, as well as Op IMPACT Iraq in 2018. As the current Occupation Advisor she is very passionate about finding new opportunities to enhance the trade and providing Professional Development activities for Med Techs.
Patrick Auger
Patrick Auger has been a Paramedic since 1991 and is certified as a Critical Care Paramedic, with most of his career focused on critical care transport within Ontario’s Air Ambulance Service provider. In 2020 as part of Canada’s initial COVID response, Patrick led the deployment of EMAT into Canadian Forces base Trenton and the NAV centre in Cornwall for repatriated Canadians. Later in 2020, he led the EMAT deployment in response to the COVID outbreaks on farms in Essex, Windsor. In early 2021, he was asked to be the Incident Commander of Operation Remote Immunity led by Ornge, the provincial air ambulance service provider. Patrick’s education includes a Bachelor of Health Science, a Master’s in Emergency Management and a Master’s in Medical Education.
CPO2 Vince Michaud
CPO2 Vince Michaud joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1999 and participated in 6 deployments over his career. In 2011 he successfully completed the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Operator Course and obtained the Special Operations Medical Technician qualification. Over the years, he developed and delivered CBRN pre-hospital guidelines for the Canadian Forces Trauma Training Center, Canadian Special Operations Training Center, and 2nd Australian Commando Regiment. Currently employed as Unit Sergeant Major at the Health Services Headquarters he is still heavily involved with research and training in CBRN pre-hospital care.
Sgt Lavoie
Sgt Simon-Luc J.J. Lavoie, CD joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2005 as a Medical Technician. His career took him all across Canada and overseas with postings to Edmonton, Ab, Bagotville, Qc, Ottawa, On, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, and deployments on two operations: OP ATHENA in Kandahar, Afghanistan from November 2010 to July 2011 and OP REASSURANCE in Campia Turzii, Romania from April to June 2014. Since 2018, Sgt Lavoie has been training and employed as a Combat Support Medical Technician, specializing in Personnel Recovery for Royal Canadian Air Force flight operations. As of 2020, he is now the Medical Technician Lead at 444 (Combat Support) Squadron and the senior instructor for the CSS Med Tech program. He has over 650 flying hours including over 100 hours of Search and Rescue missions and over 250 hours as a flight instructor.
Dr. Susan Eckenswiller
Susan Eckenswiller is the Manager, Professional Practice at York Region Paramedic Services. In this role, Susan and the Professional Practice team provide strategic leadership for Professional Development, Clinical Practice, Well-being, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Susan is a well-rounded leader, educator and researcher and has piloted several initiatives in Paramedicine including the YRPS PCP Pathways Program, the Clinician Educator Program, the use of Peer Support in Return to Practice and more. Susan’s research and expertise resides in the areas of Continuous Professional Development in Healthcare Professions and Quality Assurance in Healthcare and Mandated Learning. This combination of industry experience, research and community connections has provided Susan with a unique perspective on professional growth in Paramedicine.
Dr. Rob Elkington
Rob Elkington currently resides in Canada, serving as Assistant Professor at Trent University in Durham. Rob also serves as the CEO of Global Leadership Initiatives, Adjunct Professor at Ontario Tech University, and Senior Lecturer at Stellenbosch School of Public Leadership in Cape Town, South Africa. He has also designed and deployed the University Certificate in Police Leadership and the Certificate in Paramedic Leadership. Rob is a member of the International Leadership Association, an ICF Certified FLOW Business Coach and an MBTI practitioner. He has published a range of books, book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles and has facilitated numerous peer-reviewed presentations.
Todd Reid
Todd Reid has 23 years of experience working in Health Care, with the last 20 years with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS). During his career with WFPS he has worked as a front line Advanced Care Paramedic before transitioning into the EMS training branch in 2013. He is the Director of Paramedic Education and Training for WFPS. Prior to his EMS career, Todd completed a Bachelor of Science from the University of Winnipeg and a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation from the University of Manitoba. Todd is committed to using current research and service quality data to create training initiatives that promote better patient outcomes and Paramedic safety. Most recently he has facilitated the creation of the WFPS Threat Management Program to respond to the trend of increasing Paramedic exposure to violent incidences in Winnipeg.
Tom Zajac
Tom Zajac is a Critical Care Paramedic based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He has 20 years of paramedic experience and currently works on rotor and fixed-wing air ambulances for BC Emergency Health Services. Tom is a Medical Specialist on CAN-TF1, the Vancouver Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team. He is the Past President and a Search Team Leader with Coquitlam Search and Rescue, an all volunteer wilderness SAR team. Tom is the President of the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation and an active member of the Paramedic Association of Canada’s National Awards and Benevolent committees.
Susan Dugas
Susan is currently an Operations Manager with Ambulance New Brunswick (ANB) and has been instrumental in the implementation of the provincial Paramedics Providing Palliative Care at Home initiative. Her career in Paramedic Services spans over three decades and includes many hours on the road as a front-line paramedic, teaching students as a paramedic educator and program manager, and several years as part of the ANB Training & Quality Assurance team. Susan has also participated in resuscitation research and was recognized in 2016 by the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick (PANB) for Outstanding Contribution to Community for her successful work in leading a team to improve public recognition of sudden cardiac arrest, and to increase bystander CPR rates along with public Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use in New Brunswick.
Zach Cantor
Zach Cantor is an Education Coordinator with the Regional Paramedic Program of Eastern Ontario. He is also a primary care paramedic with a large urban service in Ontario. Zach holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of BC. Prior to becoming a paramedic, Zach was a Research Coordinator and Clinical Investigator with the Emergency Department Research Team at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario where he oversaw several local and multi-site national studies. In addition to these roles, he is a part-time research associate with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, working on developing a mental health clinic directed strictly towards local first responders. He is also the founder and host of the internationally acclaimed Critical Levels podcast.
Antonio Barreto
Antonio Barreto has 21 years experience working in the Emergency Medical Services field, including the last 18 years with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS). Antonio's primary role is an ACP, providing advanced specialty patient assessment and care to the citizens of Winnipeg, Manitoba. A recent appointment to Training Officer of Paramedic Education allowed Antonio to research, develop, and deliver an innovative, hands-on, scenario based Threat Management Program to assist Paramedics in Winnipeg in their response to an increasing number of violent situations. With the use of reality based training, the program’s goal was to improve Paramedic threat and safety awareness on the front lines, improving safety and preventing violent occurrence and escalation. Antonio is passionate about his role as a trainer and mentor for Paramedic students and first responders at WFPS.
John Kerr
John entered his EMS career as a trained Firefighter and Primary Care Paramedic. John joined the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service in 2005 as a Primary Care Paramedic, throughout his career he has moved through the Intermediate Care and Advanced Care Paramedic classifications and recently obtained his classification as an Advanced Care Paramedic Practitioner. In addition to his full-time role with WFPS John is an EMS educator and mentor and has been a Primary Care Paramedic instructor for the last 10 years. John along with 3 of his colleagues were instrumental in developing and delivering the Threat Management Training program for the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. This program was delivered to all WFPS Personnel over a one-year period. This simulation training was the first of its kind with WFPS.
Ryan VanderZwan
Ryan VanderZwan has been serving the public with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service for 13 years. He is an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) and member of the Tactical EMS team supporting the Winnipeg Police Service Tactical Team. Ryan has always had an interest in the health and safety of co-workers. He has spent several years in peer mentorship roles and is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team. Ryan joined the WFPS EMS training branch in 2021 in a Paramedic Education Training Officer role, where he and a small team developed and delivered the WFPS Threat Management Program, which included training sessions and real life scenarios, to all firefighters and paramedics, supervisors and dispatchers within WFPS.
Steven Love
Steven has been employed as a paramedic with the City of Winnipeg for the past 13 years and has 6 years experience working as part of the Tactical Emergency Medical Support Team. Prior to starting his career in paramedicine, Steven earned a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Winnipeg and subsequently worked as a Certified Athletic Therapist for a short time. Steven enjoys sharing his experience and knowledge with fellow paramedics on a daily basis. Steven is one of the four individuals responsible for developing the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services Threat Management Program.
Aman Hussain PhD
Dr. Aman Hussain is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Health at The University of Winnipeg. Dr. Hussain completed his PhD at the University of Queensland. His research has focused on the on-going learning and professional development of emergency medicine physicians. He is currently engaged in research investigating learning in high risk, high stress occupations (e.g., Police, Fire fighters, Paramedics). He also has significant interests in organizational leadership, the influence of social media on learning, and qualitative research methods. Follow Dr. Hussain on Twitter @dr_laman_huss. am.hussain@uwinnipeg.ca
Patrick Suthers
Patrick Suthers is a researcher and paramedic with the Region of Durham and a member of the McNally Project for Paramedicine Research. His previous experience in retail pharmacy and health promotion has helped him to understand the importance of access to resources and promotion of health in dictating community health. Patrick is a 4th year undergraduate student with Queen’s University, where he is completing a bachelor’s of health sciences. His academic work has focused on the experiences of frontline personnel during COVID-19, interprofessional collaboration and community paramedicine. Follow Patrick on Twitter @ PatrickSuthers 19pgrs@queensu.ca
Andrew Gleeson
Andrew Gleeson is a Commander with the Ottawa Paramedic Service, currently overseeing the portfolio of Special Operations & Planning. Starting his career in 2004, Andrew’s desire to learn and help others quickly led him to complete additional training to become an Advanced Care Flight Paramedic serving Northwestern Ontario. Andrew has benefited from additional roles such as a being a Medical Specialist on the initial Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) program for the City of Ottawa as well as Volunteer Firefighter. While completing his Master of Arts, Andrew had the opportunity to work alongside world renown researchers in the Resuscitation Outcome Consortium (ROC); striving to better understand and improve the outcomes of critically ill and dying patients. Andrew has played key roles in many high-profile files including our Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa response in 2014 and multiple Internationally Protected Persons (IPP) events. Prior to being promoted to rank of Commander in the fall of 2019, Andrew worked on the City of Ottawa’s public safety grade radio system ensuring seamless operation of this critical infrastructure for all City of Ottawa radio users. Andrew’s current role includes oversight of the Ottawa Paramedic Service’s four Special Operations Units (Tactical, Support, Marine and Bike) as well as all planning, special event and paid duty related initiatives, including the role of Incident Commander for the COVID-19 response. Andrew leads his team by embodying the statement by Alan Simpson, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters”. Andrew was born and raised in Ottawa where he lives with this wife Vivian and children Liam (10), Gavin (9) and Victoria (4). When not at work, Andrew can be found chasing kids, working on various home renovation projects or at his cottage in White Lake, ON with his family. Education and Credentials: Master of Arts (Disaster and Emergency Management), Royal Roads University, 2016 Advanced Care Flight Paramedic, Ornge Transport Medicine, 2007 Primary Care Paramedic, Algonquin College, 2004
Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton
A childhood experience had a profound influence on Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, the recipient of the 2020 Royal Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research. When first responders came to his family’s aid after a car accident, it set the course for a distinguished career. Carleton’s early glimpse into the work of public safety personnel planted a seed of understanding about the potentially traumatic events to which these professionals are regularly exposed. Now a professor of psychology at the University of Regina and founding scientific director of the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), Carleton has learned from and collaborated with hundreds of public safety personnel to develop an innovative research program that explores the mental health impacts of public safety work. Sharing that knowledge and creating solutions to treat and prevent mental health injuries among public safety personnel has been a key focus of his work. Carleton’s research and clinical work has had a transformational impact on the well-being of public safety personnel*, their leaders and their families.
Ian Blanchard
Ian Blanchard has worked in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems in Canada and the United Kingdom for the last twenty five years in various capacities, including as an Advanced Care Paramedic, quality assurance strategist, and researcher. He is the Scientist for the Alberta Health Services (AHS) EMS system, and the provincial co-chair of the AHS EMS Research Committee. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Department of Community Health Sciences, in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. In these capacities, Ian is working with a dedicated group of individuals to build the science, research and knowledge translation enterprise of EMS systems and the paramedic profession.
Dale Weiss
Dale Weiss is currently an Executive Director of EMS for Alberta Health Services and is responsible for Operations in the Edmonton Zone. In addition to 26 year in EMS of which he has held various management positions since 2001, Dale hold a Masters Degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University. In Alberta’s provincial EMS system that is integrated with its five zones, Dale is the EMS representative for the Senior Leadership Team for the Edmonton Zone and also participates in the Patient Safety and Quality Committee for the area as well as being the Executive Sponsor for the Provincial EMS OH&S committee and the EMS representative for provincial collective bargaining. Focused on collaborative research that improves patient care in the field, Dale has been a long standing member on the Vital Heart Steering Committee that has produced a decade of evidence that resulted in thrombolytic therapy becoming a standard of care for the area.
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