Meet Your 2023-2024
Association Board of Directors
*in alphabetical order
Andrew DeGruchy
Andrew DeGruchy has been working within Emergency Management sectors throughout Alberta for the previous 12 years. Andrew's career in Emergency Management began when he decided to pursue a lifelong interest of becoming a firefighter for his home community of Cold Lake in 2010. Since then, Andrew has placed a high value on training and professional development around various firefighting and emergency management aspects. Andrew has recently completed his Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management through Royal Roads Univesity. He currently holds the position of Manager of Emergency Management for the City of Lloydminster which also assumes the responsibility of Director of Emergency Management. Andrew held the position of Lieutenant in Cold Lake Fire-Rescue and was the lead instructor and facilitator of the regional NFPA 1001 program for several years, teaching hundreds of new firefighters up to a nationally recognized firefighting standard. Andrew places a high value on education and has completed a myriad of firefighting training programs including NFPA 1001 (Professional Firefighter), NFPA 472 (Hazmat operations), NFPA 1051 (Wildland Firefighter), NFPA 1021 Level 1( Fire Officer), NFPA 1041 (Fire Service Instructor), & NFPA 1061 (Public Safety Telecommunicators). Andrew's previous work experience was in delivering emergency communications (PSAP) and emergency coordination as the supervisor for an emergency call center which worked with all stakeholders who operated on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, this included, Dept. of National Defence, Oil & Gas Sector, and Government of Alberta. Andrew is married to his wife Alix, they live in the Lakeland area and enjoy spending time outdoors with their pets. Andrew also enjoys spending his free time cooking, golfing, fishing, and volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross.
Andrew DeGruchy has been working within Emergency Management sectors throughout Alberta for the previous 12 years. Andrew's career in Emergency Management began when he decided to pursue a lifelong interest of becoming a firefighter for his home community of Cold Lake in 2010. Since then, Andrew has placed a high value on training and professional development around various firefighting and emergency management aspects. Andrew has recently completed his Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management through Royal Roads Univesity. He currently holds the position of Manager of Emergency Management for the City of Lloydminster which also assumes the responsibility of Director of Emergency Management. Andrew held the position of Lieutenant in Cold Lake Fire-Rescue and was the lead instructor and facilitator of the regional NFPA 1001 program for several years, teaching hundreds of new firefighters up to a nationally recognized firefighting standard. Andrew places a high value on education and has completed a myriad of firefighting training programs including NFPA 1001 (Professional Firefighter), NFPA 472 (Hazmat operations), NFPA 1051 (Wildland Firefighter), NFPA 1021 Level 1( Fire Officer), NFPA 1041 (Fire Service Instructor), & NFPA 1061 (Public Safety Telecommunicators). Andrew's previous work experience was in delivering emergency communications (PSAP) and emergency coordination as the supervisor for an emergency call center which worked with all stakeholders who operated on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, this included, Dept. of National Defence, Oil & Gas Sector, and Government of Alberta. Andrew is married to his wife Alix, they live in the Lakeland area and enjoy spending time outdoors with their pets. Andrew also enjoys spending his free time cooking, golfing, fishing, and volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross.
Russ Nelson *contact me here
Russ has been an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces since 2003, serving as an Infantry Soldier (2003-2008), as a Medical Technician (2008-2022), and as a Canadian Ranger (2022-present). He had the privilege of deploying internationally to Afghanistan in 2009 on Task Force 3-09 (Operation Athena Rotation 8) and domestically in 2013 to the Calgary Floods as a part of Operation LENTUS. Since 2006 Russ has been involved with civilian emergency services in one form or another beginning in both Canadian & USA metro emergency medical services operations, and eventually working in emergency environments ranging from remote arctic medical clinics, hyperbaric chamber facilities, volunteer fire departments, wildfire firefighter medical support & also has experience providing medical support and advanced rescuer education to expedition groups. Russ completed his Master's Degree in Disaster and Emergency Management through Royal Roads University in 2018, and is currently employed as Director of Emergency/Disaster Management with a provincial healthcare emergency management team, working with healthcare-based emergency management groups & acting as a liaison with municipal and industrial emergency preparedness organizations. Russ founded the Alberta Association of Emergency Managers in August 2019, (incorporated as an Alberta Society on Friday November 13, 2020) is currently acting as the Treasurer for the association, and continues to work casually with various non-profit organizations.
Russ has been an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces since 2003, serving as an Infantry Soldier (2003-2008), as a Medical Technician (2008-2022), and as a Canadian Ranger (2022-present). He had the privilege of deploying internationally to Afghanistan in 2009 on Task Force 3-09 (Operation Athena Rotation 8) and domestically in 2013 to the Calgary Floods as a part of Operation LENTUS. Since 2006 Russ has been involved with civilian emergency services in one form or another beginning in both Canadian & USA metro emergency medical services operations, and eventually working in emergency environments ranging from remote arctic medical clinics, hyperbaric chamber facilities, volunteer fire departments, wildfire firefighter medical support & also has experience providing medical support and advanced rescuer education to expedition groups. Russ completed his Master's Degree in Disaster and Emergency Management through Royal Roads University in 2018, and is currently employed as Director of Emergency/Disaster Management with a provincial healthcare emergency management team, working with healthcare-based emergency management groups & acting as a liaison with municipal and industrial emergency preparedness organizations. Russ founded the Alberta Association of Emergency Managers in August 2019, (incorporated as an Alberta Society on Friday November 13, 2020) is currently acting as the Treasurer for the association, and continues to work casually with various non-profit organizations.
