Ashley has a passion for sharing knowledge and helping others succeed. As a proud alumni of the 1993-94 Algonquin College Paramedic Program, he was named the most dedicated student.

Ashley has a Master’s in Health Services Management from Charles Sturt University, a Bachelor in Physical Education (Hon), from the University of Ottawa and a Teacher & Trainer of Adults Certificate from Algonquin College. During the OPALS Study he completed his ACP Program with the Michener Institute (1998) and his Advanced Flight Paramedic Certification with Sunnybrook. Ashley has worked as a Land Paramedic in both the urban and rural environments and as an Advanced Care Flight Paramedic on 7791.

Ashley has been teaching and preceptoring throughout his career, including the Algonquin Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic Programs, Pre-Service Firefighter Program, Ottawa Base Hospital , Special Operations, Incident Command System, as well as, leadership principles to new Operations Superintendents. He was part of the team that wrote and taught the first ACP Program offered at Algonquin College (2000).

With the Ottawa Paramedic Service at the rank of Commander, he has held several portfolios including: Operations, Performance Management & Special Operations. Ashley helped build the first Tactical and Paramedic Support Unit Specialty Teams in Ottawa. He has been the incident commander and lead planner for many major events and special visits in Ottawa, most notably Canada Day Celebrations, Presidential and Royal Visits. He is the co-founder of the OPS Diversity Champion Program and actively promotes diversity.

Ashley has received several honours and awards including; The Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada, The 22 Year Service Medal from the Ottawa Paramedic Service, The City Managers Award of Excellence and the Public Hero’s Award from IDI Ottawa.

Stephen is an educator with a rich background in diverse fields including his commitment to public service in Para-medicine, documentary & film production studies, the culinary arts and alpine climbing. He is a passionate and experienced educator dedicated to lifelong learning and student development with extensive experience teaching at various levels. Stephen’s first teaching job was as a substitute teacher for Grade 11 biology, physics & environmental studies.

He is known for their innovative teaching methods, which combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge, fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Stephen briefly studied with Professor Emeritus Donald Woods of McMaster university while developing theories and practices of problem based learning (PBL) and case based learning (CBL) models which continue to evolve to this day. Both methodologies foster student centred learning platforms which he has formalized for prehospital emergency medical education.

Deanna is an experienced, positive coach and motivator for students and paramedics to reach their full potential as informal and formal servant leaders. As an EMS Coordinator and Superintendent, Deanna worked to improve bias aware teaching practices and aligning assessments of paramedic employees and new hires with bona fide job requirements. Deanna uses and has taught the GROW model of coaching for performance to hundreds of municipal staff to incorporate formal check-ins and informal coaching moments to improve success.

A paramedic graduate from Holland College, PEI, she started working in her hometown Halifax, Nova Scotia, the day after graduation in the spring of 1999. She also worked as a triage paramedic in the tertiary care center, Queen Elizabeth II Emergency Room before returning to complete her Advanced Care Paramedic program. As one of a small group of out-of-province paramedics that challenged the barriers to transfer credentials, she joined the Ottawa Paramedic Service in 2001.

With the Ottawa Paramedic Service, she highlights her roles through the years as a teacher, preceptor, hospital liaison, project officer for the Diversity Champion Program, and the Unintentional Overdose Prevention Task Force partnering with police, fire, community non-profits and Ottawa Public Health. She was a team member on many projects that improved pre-hospital care and built regional solutions to vulnerable patient care issues such as the TED program (Targeted Engagement and Diversion), STEMI bypass changes, and the CHEO NeoNatal Transport Unit.

In her volunteer time, Deanna is a founding member of the Paramedic Women’s Community, member of the Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa (PPAO) Helping Every Local Paramedic (HELPfund), Paramedic Ride, a Scouter and basketball coach.

As a cross-cultural competency facilitator, Deanna continues to work to recognize bias and use her privilege as a settler to build diverse and inclusive workplaces and communities. She lives with her wife, two children and many pets in rural Ottawa.

Tyler has filled various roles at Algonquin College since 2010, most recently as the Field Placement Officer for both the Paramedic and Advanced Care Paramedic Programs. He works closely with local Paramedic Services, hospitals, and healthcare organizations to facilitate the most progressive field learning experience possible.

Tyler holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree from Thompson Rivers University. He is a 2008 graduate of the Algonquin College Paramedic Program. Tyler completed the Advanced Care Paramedic Program, also at Algonquin College, in 2011.

Since 2008, Tyler has been a proud member of the Ottawa Paramedic Service (OPS), currently holding the rank of Operations Superintendent. He spent most of his career in Special Operations as a member and Team Leader of the Paramedic Support Unit. There, he worked as the lead medical instructor for multiple specialty units of local, provincial, and national policing agencies.

Tyler has received several awards and honors including; Algonquin College Part-Time Support Staff Award (in recognition of excellence supporting the success of students, colleagues, and clients) and the City Managers Award of Distinction in the field of innovation (the highest distinction possible for City of Ottawa employees). Tyler has an interest in innovative paramedic programming and believes strongly in education-based industry advancement.

Tyler is an avid outdoorsman, spending his spare time snowboarding, hunting, backcountry canoeing and camping with friends and family.

Throughout her career, Natalie has been involved in didactic, clinical, and preceptorship delivery at PCP, ACP, and CCP levels of care. Natalie has been working for the air ambulance since 2001, received her Critical Care Paramedic level in 2003 and completed additional training in pediatric critical care in 2009. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Ottawa University and is currently working as a Critical Care Paramedic and Field Educator for Ornge, an Education Facilitator for RPPEO, and an Instructor for the Paramedic and Advanced Care Paramedic programs at Algonquin College.

Sara holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Neuroscience and Mental Health from Carleton University. Throughout this time, Sara focused on bereavement support in pediatric palliative care at The Roger Neilson House, as well as post-anesthetic care in the Surgical Unit at The Ottawa Hospital.

Sara also comes from a background of health and fitness with over 10 years of experience in personal training, as well as competitive weightlifting. With her experience and passion for coaching, she plays an active role in teaching others about health and wellness.

She received her Primary Care and Advanced Care Paramedic diploma from Algonquin College and is a proud employee of the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Sara is committed to helping others succeed, and is active in the student precepting process as well as mentoring new employees.

Since 2017, Sara has had the privilege of fulfilling many roles within the Primary Care Paramedic Program focusing on fitness, practical, and theoretical knowledge. She truly enjoys being a part of the world of education and strives to promote a safe and supportive learning environment

Alyssa Ferns is a full-time professor with the Police and Public Safety Institute. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in forensic psychology from Carleton University, and a B.A. from the University of Guelph. Prior to working at Algonquin College, she was a full-time professor and program coordinator for the Bachelor of Social Science (Criminal Justice) at Humber College. Alyssa is an applied researcher who has had the opportunity to work with the Toronto Police Service, the RCMP, and Correctional Services Canada. She has been awarded research grants from both Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Her projects have related to police use of force decision making, neighbourhood policing, vicarious resilience of service providers, and concussion recovery for intimate partner violence survivors. She currently works with the Victimology Research Centre at Algonquin and is passionate about worker wellness for all first responders. She enjoys teaching courses related to mental health, psychology, and research methods.

Chris Martin is a full-time professor with the Police and Public Safety Institute. He holds a PhD and MA in sociology and a Criminology Certificate from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Currently, he teaches courses in sociology, ethics and professional development, and research within the Paramedic and Police Foundations programs. He has also served as the General Education Coordinator for the Faculty of Health, Public Safety, and Community Studies and is currently a member of the Research Ethics Board for Algonquin College. He is the author of the book The Social Semiotics of Tattoos: Skin and Self (Bloomsbury Academic). He has also published book chapters and scholarly journal articles for a range of publications, such as Oxford University Press, Cambridge Scholars Press, and the Public Journal of Semiotics. Dr. Martin is a past recipient of the Dianne Bloor Part-time Faculty Award for teaching excellence at Algonquin College. He continues to do research involving subjects like tattooing, identity, semiotics, and street-art. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar, reading and writing, and spending time with his wife and two young daughters.

Husam, he/his/him, is a Paramedic with 4 years experience on the road. He enjoys patient interactions and takes a holistic approach to care and assessment when appropriate.
Husam has worked with Algonquin College for the past 2 years aiding with teaching in the first year paramedic lab. He enjoys interacting with students and guiding the practical aspect of skill development.
He holds a diploma of Primary Care Paramedicine, a certificate of Advanced Care Paramedicine, and a bachelor’s in health studies. Husam enjoys expanding his knowledge in the profession through research and continuing medical education, both formal and informal.
Outside of work and education Husam volunteers with small community groups in Ontario that aim to provide basic medicine and supplies to civilians and care providers in war-torn nations.
He enjoys playing and watching sports and spending time with family, friends, and colleagues.

Brittany brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role at Algonquin College, where she has been a faculty member since 2014 teaching Lab for both the Advanced Care and Primary Care Paramedic programs. With 16 years of hands-on experience as a Paramedic, Brittany’s career has been marked by her commitment to excellence and leadership in the field of emergency medical services.
Currently, Brittany holds a leadership position with an urban paramedic service in Eastern Ontario where she leverages her extensive field experience to drive advancements in emergency care and operational efficiency. Her strategic vision and deep understanding of the challenges faced by first responders make her a valuable asset in shaping the future of paramedicine.
In addition to her practical work, Brittany serves as a Board of Director on the Ottawa First Responder Foundation. Her involvement with the Foundation highlights her dedication to supporting and improving the well-being of first responders within the Ottawa community.
At Algonquin College, Brittany is known for her engaging teaching style and her ability to inspire and mentor students. Her classes are enriched by her real-world insights and her passion for developing the next generation of emergency medical professionals. Brittany’s contributions to both the academic and practical realms of paramedicine reflect her unwavering commitment to the profession and her students.