Wilderness Medicine, Rescue & Safety Training in Ontario
Advanced Rescue Solutions Canada Inc. provides wilderness medicine, survival, and rescue training for individuals, industry, and government across Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area.
Founded and led by first responder Scott Hembruff, W-EMT, who has more than 25 years of field experience in Arctic, mountain, and remote settings, our courses are built on real-world operations, not just theory.
We offer Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness First Aid, wilderness survival, and ice water and water rescue courses, along with occupational health and safety training and custom group programs. Our realistic, scenario-based training prepares you to act when help is hours away.
We serve film and production, government and research, industrial, mining and trades, aviation, law enforcement and security, maritime, and outdoor education clients. We also offer safety and rescue consulting for high-risk work sites.
Our work also supports first responders beyond the field. After the Sirens, our PTSD peer support group in Toronto, is part of our mission to build resilience and recovery.
Explore our courses, request a custom training quote, or contact us today. Accidents do happen, and we're here to make sure you're ready.
The HAVOC Project: First Responder Mental Health Outreach & Service Dog Advocacy in Ontario
The HAVOC Project is a first responder-led initiative supporting police, fire, paramedic, and other frontline personnel living with PTSD and Operational Stress Injuries (OSI).
Founded by Scott Hembruff, a medically retired firefighter, water rescue specialist, and EMT-Medic, the project grew out of his own experience with trauma and recovery.
At the centre of the project is K-9 Havoc, a task-trained psychiatric service dog. Havoc visits active police, fire, and EMS stations, where her presence offers on-shift stress relief and opens the door to honest peer conversations about mental health.
The project also advocates for The HAVOC Act, a proposed framework that calls for modernized service dog access, clear competency-based testing standards, and fair insurance and social assistance coverage for first responders and volunteer personnel.
We welcome clinical professionals, canine industry brands, and corporate sponsors who want to support frontline trauma survivors.
Sign the petition, explore our partnership opportunities, or contact us to get involved.
After the Sirens: Toronto First Responder PTSD Peer Support Group
After the Sirens is a peer-led social community in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area for first responders, veterans, and their families.
We welcome current and retired members of fire, EMS, police, communications, and rescue services, including those on medical leave.
Leaving active service can be isolating. Our group offers a relaxed, low-pressure space to reconnect with people who understand the job, without needing to explain your story.
We are a non-clinical peer group, not a therapy program.
Each month we host "Stand Down" coffee meetups and K9 social walks (service dog teams and pet owners welcome).
We also run the Sailing Sanctuary Program aboard SV Knot On Duty, a 42-foot sailboat on Lake Ontario, with small groups and no pressure to participate beyond what feels right.
You don't need to be fixed to join.
Contact us to find the date and location of our next meet-up.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline, at any time.
A division of 1001127924 Ontario Inc.
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