As a Wilderness First Aid Instructor since 1991, Brooks has taught hundreds of 5 and 10-day classes of Wilderness First Aid all over Western Canada to guides, outdoor adventurers, field scientists, park wardens, and the like. From 1986 to 2003, Brooks was a Backcountry Adventure Guide leading wilderness trips from 5 to 25 days in length in Western Canadian places like the West Coast Trail to Stein Valley and Strathcona Park. Brooks and his lovely wife, Anne Marie, have 2 highly-energetic young sons, Austin and Oliver.

In addition to being a Primary Care Paramedic with the BC Ambulance Service, he has worked as the Director of Safety for BC Bike Race (2006-2009) and now sits as a Senator (2009-current) to ensure its overall success.
Brooks founded Slipstream Wilderness First Aid in 1990 and Solid Medical & Safety Systems in 2006.

Michael started his foray into medicine in 1985 as a medic in the US Navy/Marine Corps, serving as a critical care corpsman at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was next stationed onboard the USS Canopus and worked with both the Medical Department and the US Marine detachment onboard the ship where he earned the nickname “Doc”. After getting out, Doc worked at Tucson Medical Center as a patient care technician in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit.

Doc has been a Wilderness First Aid Instructor since 2005. He is an Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) Instructor and Instructor Trainer, as well as a member of and trainer for the Mount Washington Ski Patrol Association. Doc is a member of the Wilderness Medical Society, and is pursuing his Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM).

Over the years, Doc has spent a lot of time in the wilderness, both solo and with his friends and family. Doc is a published nature photographer, seeking out close encounters with wildlife, often in remote areas. Becoming a father in 2007 did not end the adventures; Doc, his wonderful wife Sonya, and their ambitious daughter Amika regularly enjoy ocean and river canoe trips. Between 2007 and 2009, they spent 5 days in the Broken Islands, 12 days on the Dease and Stikine Rivers, and 14 days on the Missouri River, not counting many other small trips. Doc and family also enjoy climbing, skiing, photography, and backpacking.

Chris likes doing stuff. He’s been doing stuff for Slipstream since 2003, mainly teaching Wilderness First Aid across Western Canada but also hanging around Headquarters and distracting the rest of the staff. Chris has been a back-country guide since 2003, hiking, climbing and paddling his way across British Columbia. He’s also a Primary Care Paramedic and, despite being a Newfie, doesn’t talk funny. Hey b’y.

Mike has been with Slipstream since 1994. He has a long history of administering first aid, currently as Ski Patrol Supervisor on Cypress Bowl and previously as a First Aid Attendant for a reforestation firm. An avid fly fisherman and back-country traveler, Mike has explored much of BC. Mike is one of our most experienced Wilderness First Aid instructors and he is also our resident Outdoor Emergency Care specialist.

In 2005, Yukie decided to leave her teaching career in Japan and travel to the Canadian wilderness. Since then, she has spent time in a variety of outdoor adventure programs and has been a back country guide all over BC. She enjoys teaching Wilderness First Aid, Occupational First Aid, and Red Cross courses. In 2009, she completed her Primary Care Paramedic training and plans to start riding around in an ambulance, eagerly seeking out injured people to treat with her confident smile, masterful grasp of the Engrish ranguage and unparalleled first aid skills. During the winter, she can be found in the Mt. Washington Ski Patrol first aid room hoping people will crash so she can get lots of "it". Honto.

In the Fall of 2009, Yukie returned from 6 weeks in Japan teaching the very successful debut courses for Slipstream Japan. Yukie's enthusiasm and love of life make her an asset in the classroom. You will never believe such a pure innocent Japanese girl can tell you so many lovely dirty jokes! Or... maybe it’s just her Engrish? Yatta!


林　由希恵 鹿児島県出身: 大学を卒業後、7年間公立学校教員として勤務、‘挑戦し続ける人生’を求めて2005年にカナダへ。夏期は主に山岳/バックカントリーガイドとカヤッキングガイドとして、冬季はスキーパトロールに従事。ウィルダネスファーストエイドの講師として働く傍ら、赤十字の救急法講師、工業救急法の講師の資格も取得。今年4月には救命救急士の資格も取り、救命医療の現場にも足を踏み出した。多岐における経験をもとに、ＷＦＡのプロフェッショナルとして厳しい自覚を持ち、常に最新の情報と現場の最先端で最良のコースを提供できるよう邁進中である。「日本に野外救急法は必要だ」と思い続けて念願かない、今、Slipstream JAPANの始動に燃えている。

Melinda joined Slipstream in August 2005 and now leads the quirky admin team, holding the official job title "Magician Juggler Tightrope-Walker Mind-Reader". She is also fondly referred to by her coworkers as the "voice of reason".

Managing her family's three businesses as a young adult, combined with completion of the Masters Program at the Victoria College of Art in 2004, prepared Melinda to meet the demands in creative and analytical thinking presented by her unique position at Slipstream Headquarters.

Melinda finds great enjoyment in aimless wandering, sunny days, compulsive inspired creation including abstract drawing, painting, and photography, showing off her 1973 vintage Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, discovering the workings of the universe, and smooshing her four beautiful nephews.

Our resident Kiwi, Jemma wisely found the warmest part of Canada and moved to Victoria, joining the Slipstream admin team in 2009. When not hard at work at Headquarters, Jemma spends her time learning to speak so Canadians will understand her, collecting sand from every beach she visits, perfecting the art of baking chocolate chip cookies. and getting used to life upside down.

Atsushi came to Canada in 2006 just because he loves sports in North America like hockey, baseball, football. During his time in Canada, he completed a master degree in business at the Vancouver Island University. He joined the Slipstream admin team in 2010 and supports the Slipstream Japan project.

田中　厚志　　愛知県出身。　大学卒業後、ただ野球やホッケーなど北米のスポーツが好きという不純な動機でカナダへ。カナダでは英語の勉強から始まり、大学でビジネスを学ぶなどし、2010年よりSlipstreamチームに加わり、ウィルダネス・ファーストエイドそしてSlipstreamの日本での普及活動をサポート。

Dani is the newest addition to the Slipstream office team, returning to her hometown of Victoria after a 3-year adventure to the big city of Vancouver to attend school and work in the film and television industry. Her avoidance of prolonged exposure to the wilderness and vast experience in office administration makes her a welcome fit to the Slipstream Headquarters. When she is not busy with her Excel spreadsheets or preparing for the zombie apocalypse, Dani spends her time amusing her friends and co-workers, watching countless movies and trying to master home slurpee making.

Laura joined the Slipstream instructor team in 2007. She grew up on Vancouver Island, and randomly snuck away to Massachusetts where she graduated in 2003 with an undergraduate degree (biochemical sciences-style) from Harvard University. Since then she has been fulfilling her addictions to traveling, volunteering, being outside, and coffee. Adventures and undertakings have included an HIV/AIDS project in Tanzania, volunteering in a sexual health (like STIs, condoms, birth control, womenses, etc.) clinic in Nanaimo, a 7-month internship with a medical non-profit in Gabon (next to the Congo in central Africa), a brief stint working with a Department of Fisheries and Oceans genetics laboratory, kayak guiding, and hiking/wandering in Central/South America. 20 years of dancing have left her with a little bit of a ”funny walk” but she still enjoys lots of time outside kayaking and hiking in BC and other countries (favourites include the Bunsbys and Kyuquot on Vancouver Island and Argentinean Patagonia). She has her Emergency Medical Responder certification, and in 2009 she started volunteering with AIDS Vancouver Island and in the Mount Washington First Aid Room.

Ellie joined the Slipstream instructor team in 2007. Since completing a bachelor degree in Kinesiology and Outdoor Pursuits at the University of Calgary in 2003, she has worked in the outdoor industry as a sea kayak guide and outdoor educator in the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver Island, and Baja, Mexico.

Ellie spends her winters skiing and cooking for a small backcountry ski touring operation in the Purcells. In her spare time Ellie also enjoys hiking, paddling, climbing, biking and chopping wood.

Dave has been guiding groups for over 20 years, the past nine in Alberta. Originally trained as a mountain leader and climbing supervisor in the UK, Dave is a certified Backpacking guide, Cross Country Ski Instructor, and Professional Interpreter. Dave has learned traditional survival skills and is currently applying those skills in the mountain environment. Dave brings his knowledge to Slipstream as an assistant wilderness first aid instructor and survival specialist.

Brenda has been with Slipstream since 2005. She is a Professional Interpretive guide, a member of the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors, and is fully qualified as a Standard First Aid Instructor through the Canadian Red Cross. Brenda was born and raised in the Rockies in Jasper National Park and has spent a vast amount of time trekking from valley to valley.

A graduate of several guide training programs and lifelong wilderness explorer, Ian has been with Slipstream since 1994. Ian divides his time between wilderness first aid instruction, Paramedicine, safety consulting, and backcountry guiding. Oh, and every once in a while he takes a day off to go skiing, climbing or just relax at home in Victoria.

Kayla has worked with Slipstream since the fall of 2005. She has spent several years leading trips and teaching outdoor leadership in the Rocky Mountains and on Vancouver Island. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in geology at Simon Fraser University, and spends her summers in the field on Baffin Island.

Liz is an enthusiastic mountain biker and sea kayak guide. She has recently completed her Masters degree in Exercise Physiology at UVic, and she brings this expertise into the classroom. She also works for SportsCan with Canada's Olympic athletes.

Gord has been guiding for thirteen years, joining Slipstream shortly after its inception and now heads the Rock & Ice division. Forever easygoing and patient, he works hard to make sure that each individual's needs are met and that everyone leaves with a smile on their face (plus a few good photos). Gord is certified to instruct Wilderness First Aid at the Essential Wilderness First Aid level and has been instructing for eight years.