Our Team of Professionals
Ron Morrison – Executive Director/Technical Rescue Specialist and Head Instructor
Ron has spent well over a decade delivering rescue, medical, leadership and adventure skills programs and has provided consulting services for emergency service teams, government agencies and industry. He is the official Service Provider and Instructor Trainer for Rescue 3 International within Alberta and is also the Western Canada Manager for Wilderness Medical Associates the worlds leading provider of wilderness and remote medicine. He is well rooted in the Alberta paddling community and was formerly the Education Chair of Paddle Alberta. Ron also spent time serving in the Canadian Armed Forces and has worked and played in high risk environments all over the world ranging the Canadian Arctic to Africa. Ron is a certified parks Canada guide and interpreter, an examiner for the B.C. Raft Outfitters association and holds an honors degree in Outdoor Recreation Parks and Tourism and another in Geography. Above all it’s Ron’s passion for teaching, sharing experiences and attention to detail that fuels his commitment to the industry and guides WAVE into the future. Detailed bio available upon request.
Rob Vance - Operations Manager
Rob is a very important member of our team and does everything from assisting on courses, administration, special projects and equipment management. Rob has been guiding and instructing outdoor skills for almost 10 years. He has a wealth of paddle guiding and instructional experience. Rob has guided paddling expeditions in the Canadian North, Alberta and Ontario. Robs hold a BA in geography, Bachelor of Physical Health and Education and most recently a Bachelor of Education with a specialty in Outdoor Education. His strong academic background and teaching experiences are a real asset to our team and operations management. Rob is also a certified whitewater paddling instructor, Wilderness First Responder, Emergency Medical Responder and Advanced Swift Water Rescue Technician. He is also the co-founder of Connected in Motion – an organization whose mission is to unite people with type one diabetes who want to live healthy outdoor lifestyles through outdoor experiential learning opportunities. Check out more about Connected in Motion online at www.connectedinmotion.ca. Rob splits his time between WAVE, guiding river expeditions in the Canadian north and Connected in Motion.
Rob Evans-Davies – Technical Rescue Instructor
Rob is one of our technical rescue and medical experts. He is also a certified NFPA instructor, ALS paramedic and an Assistant Chief of Canmore Fire Rescue. Rob brings a wealth of operational experience and knowledge to our programs. He is also an accomplished paddler with many miles under his belt in the Canadian Rockies. Rob brings a tremendous amount of swiftwater rescue experience to our team. Rob is an experienced and dynamic instructor with a ton of real life experience.
Todd Sikorsky – Technical Rescue Instructor
Todd is also one of our Technical Rescue instructors. He currently works as the Chief for Canmore FIRE/EMS. Todd is an ALS and flight certified paramedic, and a lead specialist for the Canmore Technical Rescue team. His list of certifications is long and includes being dive qualified and certified through Alberta Parks for Heli-sling operations. He is an active member of the IFSAC and PRO board and certified as an NFPA instructor. Todd is an easygoing instructor with a wealth of experience. Todd is also an avid climber and mountain bike enthusiast.
Chris Burnham – Technical Rescue Instructor
Chris has spent most of his life kayaking and rafting all over the world in places like the UK, Norway, France, Italy, Austria, USA, Canada, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Nepal, India, Zambia & Zimbabwe. He is presently the head guide and operations manager for Wildwater Adventures on the Kicking Horse River in B.C. Chris has also managed rafting companies in France, USA and Africa. In addition Chris is an examiner for the B.C. Raft Outfitters Association, certified kayaking instructor, CSIA level 3 ski instructor, Advanced Wilderness First Responder and has an honors degree in business from Nottingham University in the UK. Chris has a strong background in rope rescue and has worked as a Rope Access Technician for the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association. Chris brings a wealth of experience, skill and charisma to our team.
Travis Finlayson – Technical Rescue and Paddling Instructor
Travis has been professionally teaching and guiding a wide variety of outdoor skills for almost 10 years. He has led a number of river expeditions across the Canadian North, is a certified paddling instructor, avalanche safety instructor, ski/snowboard instructor and an instructor for the Canadian Safety Council. Travis is also an instructor and Program head for the Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Program at Lakeland College in Alberta. Travis has also been teaching wilderness medical programs and has worked as a professional ski patroller for a number of years. Travis is a dynamic and experienced instructor and we are proud to have him as a part of our team.
Terry Paholek – Technical Support
Terry is WAVE's technical support and is responsible for developing our website and all of our digital media. He is also an accomplished and traveled climber and musician.. In addition to owning a digital media business, he operates a state of the art recording studio in Edmonton. Come visit him at the Physics Laboratory. Since meeting Ron he's become quite hooked on kayaking. Soon he will join the dark side.
Bios for the rest of our talented team to be posted soon.