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Paul Raftis, Chief
Paul has been with Toronto EMS for 20 years, beginning his career as a Paramedic in 1991. As an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP), he was one of the first ACPs assigned to the Emergency Task Force (ETF), tactical paramedic program.
Paul began his management career as an operations supervisor in 1999. Since then, he has earned promotions to several positions throughout Toronto EMS, including serving in both the Deputy Chief of Operations and the Chief’s Office. He managed the Special Operations Unit as well as the Central Ambulance Communications Centre. With each role, he broadened his understanding of the short and long-term issues facing the division and brought his keen intelligence and grasp of the issues to solve many organizational challenges. His latest promotion was in January 2010, when Paul became the Deputy Chief of Operations.
As Deputy Chief, Paul oversaw the delivery of emergency and non-emergency medical care in the City of Toronto, leading a team of 930 staff with an operating budget totalling $112 million. The professional team includes Primary, Advanced and Critical Care Paramedics. He was also responsible for the Special Operations teams that provide paramedic service in unique and challenging environments. These teams include Critical Care Transport Unit (CCTU), Primary Care Transport Unit (PCTU), Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Emergency Support Unit (ESU), Public Safety Unit (PSU), Emergency Task Force (ETF), Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Unit (HUSAR), Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive Unit (CBRNE), and the bike and marine units.
In his new role, Paul will lead an emergency medical service providing world-class, pre-hospital emergency care to residents and visitors to the City of Toronto. Toronto EMS has a staff of over 1,200 which includes Paramedics, Emergency Medical Dispatchers and Support Staff. They respond to more than 315,000 emergency medical calls per year supported by a fleet of 155 ambulances in 45 ambulance stations across the city.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Health Science degree from Charles Sturt University and an Ambulance and Emergency Care Certificate from Fanshawe College.
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Alan Craig, Deputy Chief
With more than 33 years in Fire and EMS service, Alan Craig is Deputy Chief-at-Large, responsible for a wide range of projects in EMS system design including redefining the role of advanced life support, complex cardiac care, and new pre-hospital biotechnologies. He is also responsible for EMS research initiatives include Toronto EMS’s role in the 10-site US National Institutes of Health Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium testing new interventions in cardiac arrest and near-death trauma.
Alan has been an advanced life support paramedic since 1988 and served extensively in an inner city neighbourhood of Toronto’s west side before progressing through the ranks to Deputy Chief in 1999. He continues today to routinely practice and teach as an ALS paramedic.
Alan holds an appointment as a Collaborating Investigator at the Keenan Research Centre of Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, a partnership between the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital. He holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Geography and a Certificate in Public Administration, both from the U. of T. He has also participated widely in the international EMS environment, including development of EMS system designs for the Province of Nova Scotia and the Region of Ottawa-Carlton. He is a regular presenter and faculty member at EMS and emergency medicine conferences on a wide range of EMS and clinical topics.
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Frank Hurlehey, Deputy Chief, Operational Support
Frank started his career at Toronto EMS in 1980 with the Toronto Department of Ambulance Services as a Driver/Attendant. He was chosen to become one of Toronto EMS' first Advanced Life Support Program participants, graduating and then working as an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) for over sixteen years.
During his career he had the privilege of being selected as a member of the following special teams; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE), Public Safety Unit (PSU) Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and Emergency Support Unit (ESU). He continues to be a member of these teams today.
In 2004 Frank was promoted to District Superintendent and then to Commander of Operations. Over the past several years he has rotated through several leadership positions including Commander, North East District, Fleet, Scheduling, Stores, Equipment Services, Facilities, and Payroll.
These opportunities have given him a diverse set of skills and understanding of each of the functions of Toronto EMS and he brings this valuable knowledge to the leadership team.
In his new role he will oversee Toronto EMS Fleet Services, Central Ambulance Dispatch (CAD) Systems and Engineering Technology support, Headquarters and Station Facility Maintenance, Materials Management, Equipment Retrieval and Maintenance, Finance and Payroll and Capital Programs.
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Gord McEachen, Deputy Chief, Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC)
 Gord began his EMS career with Toronto as a paramedic in 1985. He became one of the early advanced life support paramedics and one of the first tactical paramedics before being promoted to supervisor, EMS Education as a clinical educator in 1995.
Gord moved his career from Toronto in 1999 and became Manager of Special Operations and later, Director of Operations with York Region EMS. In 2006, Gord took his career from York Region to British Columbia and became Director of the Lower Mainland with the British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS). Gord’s progressive roles and responsibilities included a variety of programs and projects in operations, training, quality assurance, medical oversight programs and the management of many large-scale events.
In 2009, Gord returned to Toronto EMS in the role of Commander, Policy and Program Management reporting to the Chief. He was re-assigned to the Deputy Chief’s office, Operations in 2010.
A confirmed life-long learner, Gord’s educational background includes Advanced Emergency Medical Assistant certification (Ontario), Advanced Care Paramedic certification (CMA Level 3 – Sunnybrook), ALS Instructor certification (Sunnybrook Hospital), Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (University of Toronto), Bachelor of Health Sciences – Prehospital Care (Charles Sturt University), a Masters Certificate in Municipal Management (York University) and numerous Emergency Management programming from the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Gord’s wealth of experience and education make him a valuable member of the Toronto EMS team. He was promoted to Deputy Chief, Central Ambulance Communications Centre on March 21, 2011.
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Cindy Nicholson, Deputy Chief, Program Development and Service Quality
 Cindy began her career with Toronto EMS in May 1982 and has the distinction of becoming the first female advanced care paramedic in 1987. Cindy was promoted to supervisor, EMS Education in 1991 where she oversaw the training of new recruits, the advancement of primary care paramedics to advanced care paramedics and the coordination of the Ontario Pre-hospital Advanced Life Support (OPALS) Preceptorship program.
As a supervisor, she worked in the Professional Standards Unit, Northeast (District 2) Operations and Special Operations. She established the Critical Care paramedic program as a model for the province and was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Emergency Response Program.
Cindy achieved further success as District Operations Support Supervisory (DOSS), acting manager, Special Operations in 2005 and as acting manager, Central Communication Centre (CACC) in 2008.
Her promotion to Deputy Chief, Program Development and Service Quality in February 2011, earns her the further distinction of becoming the first female to achieve this rank and recognition.
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Garrie Wright, Deputy Chief, Operations
 Garrie graduated from McMaster University in 1980 with a degree in Physical Education and from Humber College with an Ambulance Emergency Care Diploma in 1981.
He started his ambulance career in 1979 with Superior Ambulance Service in Hamilton and was hired by DAS in the fall of 1981 as a Driver/Attendant and became an advanced care paramedic in 1990. Garrie was a member of the first Public Order Unit and represented DAS in several international ALS competitions.
Garrie began his management career in 2000 with EMS Education training new level II paramedics and was quickly promoted into the Cardiac Safe City Program. Garrie was responsible for expanding the Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program and laid the foundation for the success the program enjoys today. Garrie is particularly proud of the work he did with the Mikey Network, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and the provincial government in getting PAD programs established across the province. Garrie was assigned as an administrative supervisor in 2005 and to the Chief’s office in 2007. While in the Chief’s office, Garrie briefly assumed the role as the executive director of the EMS Chiefs of Canada (EMSCC) and had the opportunity to work closely with EMS leadership across Canada. Garrie was instrumental in establishing a new website for the EMSCC which now forms the hub of communication for all issues related to the EMS industry in Canada. Garrie represented Toronto EMS on the City’s Bargaining Team in 2009 and was later promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations in 2010.
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