About Rescue Canada

Michael has decades of invaluable experience in the safety and rescue realm. He completed his first Swiftwater Technician course in 1989 during his membership with Chilliwack Search & Rescue. Directly following this, (in 1990), he completed his Swiftwater Instructor’s course taught by Jim Segerstrom of Rescue 3 International, and Jim Lavalley - the owner and founder of Rescue Canada, who at that point was operating as Rescue 3 Canada. In 1991, Michael was certified as Lead Instructor for Rescue 3 Canada (to be rebranded to Rescue Canada in 1998). Michael’s extensive background and years of experience accredit him as a long-term asset of Rescue Canada.

Further growth and development were abetted by the leadership and guidance of Jim Lavalley while they partnered to update, formalize and standardize our Instructor program and courses. This resulted in an expanded course curriculum into the mediums of ice, boat, rope and helicopter; the latter is an avenue where Michael honed in on his talents to become a Master Instructor with over 10 years of active instructing. Today, he is the Operations Director, at the helm of special projects, consultation, contracting and instructor development.

Michael, outside of Rescue Canada, dedicated a 35-year career to the BC Ambulance Service as an Advance Life Support Paramedic. This career provided him with a wholly unique and pivotal skillset that aids him currently in further developing Rescue Canada.