(877) 807-3334
ABOUT US
WHEN AND WHY WAS VALOR RESCUE CREATED?
Valor Rescue was founded in March of 2023
by three amazing friends!
As rescue professionals, we understood the importance of proper education and training. Our goal is to be the top tier provider for rescue training programs.
Our mission was easy to define:
"TO PROVIDE WORLD CLASS TRAINING, CONSULTING AND
TEAM DEVELOPMENT FOR RESCUE PROFESSIONALS"
Our approach had to be different and our passion had to be reflected in every course. We believe in providing hands on training and realistic scenarios
to ensure our clients have the confidence needed to make the right decisions quickly and effectively, in any rescue situation. We have
designed our courses to prepare you for just that!
HOW DID WE DECIDED ON THE NAME VALOR RESCUE?
VALOR:
Strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness
Our name, Valor Rescue, represents the qualities of courage and bravery that define emergency responders, our team, and mission statement. As rescue professionals
we understand and respect the imminent dangers present in every emergency response. Our philosophy is to provide training that allows you to respond to
any technical rescue with confidence, courage, bravery and strength.
MEET THE VALOR RESCUE CREW
SCOTT OLLERHEAD
Instructor / Director
For over twenty years, Scott’s life has been closely connected to the world of emergency response. He began his professional journey as a Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor. However, with a family background steeped in emergency services including firefighting, paramedicine, and law enforcement, a transition into emergency response was a natural progression for him. Scott’s passion for technical rescue was ignited in 2001 when he joined a mine rescue team. This spark quickly grew into a steadfast commitment to various first responder roles, such as high angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, industrial fire response, and medical response. His enthusiasm for rescue work flourished, leading him to captain competition rescue teams. Under his leadership, these teams achieved numerous provincial championships, best captain awards, and consecutive western regional rope rescue victories. Scott eventually took his skills to the international stage, competing at CMC's GRIMP North America on the historic battleship USS Iowa. In 2025, Scott led “The EH Team,” a competition rescue team that participated at GRIMP in Geneva, Switzerland. The team is now actively preparing for the 20th anniversary of GRIMP, which will take place in Namur, Belgium, in June 2026. Scott’s journey led him to join one of Canada’s HUSAR (Heavy Urban Search and Rescue) disaster response teams, where he met Mike and Chris. Committed to continuous learning and professional development, Scott expanded his knowledge in areas such as rope rescue, IRATA and SPRAT rope access, tactical rappel master for law enforcement, structural collapse, confined space, heavy vehicle extrication, strike team / task force operations, and leadership. Scott’s expertise extends to the orchestration of high-speed performance teams, emphasizing safety, collaboration, and rapid effective response where precision and efficiency are critical. Staying current in the latest rescue techniques, Scott has demonstrated his ability to lead teams through complex and time-sensitive missions. Scott continues to enhance his instructional skills and strategic approach by adopting a science-based methodology and incorporating modern technical rescue techniques into his practice. During his downtime (what’s that?) he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, three children, three grandchildren, their two golden doodles, and three grand pups. He can often be found at the gym, overlanding with family and friends, hiking, and enjoying the great outdoors.
MIKE HALPRIN
Instructor / Director
Mike began his career as a first responder over a decade ago, joining his hometown fire department as a paid-response member. Early on, he earned a position on the department’s Special Operations Rescue Team, where he was introduced to technical rescue disciplines including rope, confined space, ice, swift water, and vehicle extrication. During this time, he also became a 1041-certified Fire Service Instructor, reinforcing his commitment to both operational excellence and effective instruction. That exposure ignited a passion that would shape the next ten years of his career. In 2018, Mike’s drive to continually improve as a rescuer led him to one of Canada’s HUSAR disaster response teams. As a member of this elite Urban Search and Rescue group, he expanded his expertise into structural collapse rescue and participated in deployments and large-scale exercises across North America. Through this role, Mike pursued advanced training in rigging, tactical rappel mastery, and small-team leadership—experiences that further deepened his commitment to the craft of rescue. Mike’s dedication to professional growth has taken him across the continent to train with some of the most respected rescuers in the world. He is a SPRAT Level III Rope Access Technician and has served as an assessor at CMC’s GRIMP North America, held aboard the USS Iowa. He is also a member of The Eh Team, a competition-level rescue team that represents Canada on the world stage. The team competed at GRIMP Geneva in 2025 and is preparing to compete in Namur, Belgium in 2026. Mike continues to advance his instructional skills and training methodologies, applying field-tested experience to the development of effective, modern technical rescue training. Outside of work, Mike can usually be found fostering puppies, experimenting with rigging systems in the lab, or mountain biking in the Rockies of Western Canada. He finds his balance and peace spending time with his fiancée, his young daughter, and their floof, Anna.
CHRIS BENTLEY
Founding Member / Instructor
Chris’s love of rescue was born almost 25 years ago in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada. From humble beginnings learning to rescue his climbing partners from crevasses and joining a local SAR team, it grew to a life long passion and career. After completing training as an acute care paramedic, Chris joined a small, but growing sub-urban fire department where he has been for the past 16 years. Filling the roll of field trainer and coordinating the technical rescue program has culminated in a recent promotion to training officer where he is able to constantly develop his teaching skills. Chris joined one of Canada’s HUSAR disaster response teams in 2008 where he’s been able to hone his technical rescue skills in high angle, building collapse, confined space and heavy vehicle extrication. This provided the opportunity for extra training, combining medical and rescue, advanced rigging, international exercises and deployments to some of the biggest disasters in Canadian history. Chris is also certified as a tactical rappel master. On his days off Chris fills his time with family and enjoying the outdoors of the interior of British Columbia. Interspersed withcall outs for his local SAR team he never stops advancing his craft as a rescuer. Many adventures with his daughter will find them rappelling out of caves or testing different rope systems on their back yard tower.
SEAN STERNA
Instructor
Sean brings an extensive background of safety, emergency response and rope skills to the team; having joined the world of emergency response nearing two decades ago. Sean has been involved in instruction for much of his adult life. While attending the University of Calgary, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences, Sean worked at the university’s Outdoor Centre teaching rock climbing and rope techniques. With his start in emergency response officially occurring in 2007, Sean began work with the Ski Patrol team at a large ski resort in the Canadian Rockies. He quickly grew into the role of Assistant Ski Patrol Director, where he would coordinate avalanche control and emergency medical response while leading training on rope rescue and lift evacuation. Sean soon found his way into the fire service, and for well over a decade has been responding to calls ranging from structure fires, rope rescues, motor vehicle collisions, hazmat response, and backcountry extractions. He continues to serve as a Fire Captain and Tech Rescue Lead for the department, responsible for in-service training and ensuring the members of the team maintain competency and qualification in their field. Sean holds his NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor Level 2 qualification, along with a myriad of additional professional qualifications within the fire and rescue disciplines ranging from technical rescue to fire officer. Sean is also certified as a tactical rappel master for law enforcement. Outside of the fire and rescue service, Sean works as a rope access technician and climbing arborist out of his home base in Southern Alberta. Alongside his teaching role with Valor Rescue, Sean is an instructor with Arboriculture Canada; where he provides instruction in tree climbing, aerial rescue, technical rigging and rope operations, and chainsaw safety and cutting techniques. Sean also spent several years managing industry-renowned life safety and emergency response programs, consulting for some of the biggest and most well-known commercial properties in Western Canada. When not engaged in emergency response or training duties, Sean has an incredible passion for rock and ice climbing, alpine mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, and mountain biking; activities he enjoys in his ‘backyard’ of Kananaskis and the Rocky Mountains of Alberta.
STEVEN LOHSE
Instructor
Steven’s life journey in Emergency Services started in his young adult life as a member of St. John Ambulance Brigade where he contributed countless volunteer hours providing standby medical services at various events. This was the start of his passion for Emergency Services, it fueled his fire to want more! After high school, Steven completed his Emergency Services Technologist Diploma at Lakeland College where he received his NFPA 1001 level 1 and 2 and EMT-A (now PCP). In 2004, Steven was successful in winning the lottery and getting on with a Fire Department in a large municipality in Southern Alberta. Through his career with the FD, he had the opportunity to continue his development and become a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Technical Rescue Specialist, and progressed to the rank of Captain. His learning and desire to provide services to citizens lead him to a ‘10 year’ part time job as a Primary Care Paramedic with Calgary Metro. Steven’s obsession with Emergency Services has been constantly displayed through his life experiences and his drive to learn more. Steven describes his career as a lifetime learner. He acquired his NFPA 1041 level 2 (fire service instructor) and teaches with passion. In 2014, Steven joined one of Canada’s HUSAR teams as a Hazardous Materials Specialist and Technical Rescue Specialist. In 2020, Steven’s career shifted gears as he secured a day staff position in the FD, leading him to one of four paid staff positions with the HUSAR team. He held this day staff role for a 5 year term that encompassed operations and training of this amazing team. His enthusiasm and drive for professionalism was contagious, leading members to a better understanding of Technical Rescue. His quotes of “every rescue is a medical call” resonates with members and drives the level of care and teamwork. He truly believes, “You only get one chance to do the rescue. Train Hard, Train Smart, Train Right.” Something he just doesn’t say, but instead he executes by his words, demonstration, knowledge, and passion for Technical Rescue! On Steven’s time off, he continues his nerd passion for Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, and Structural Collapse Rescue. It is very uncommon to see him without a Structural Collapse Shoring Guide within arm’s reach at work or on days off. He has an amazing wife and 2 awesome daughters that support him beyond words. He enjoys his time off with his family camping, doing activities, being daddy taxi, curling during the winter, and cuddling with his two dogs. It’s quite obvious, that 4 legged fur friends are Steven’s favorite companions, behind his family of course. Oh and Christmas, Christmas is a year round thing for him. We won’t hold this against him!!
MATT STEIN
Instructor
Matt is a tradesman, former CAF Medical Technician, Primary Care Paramedic, firefighter, and a member of Ontario Task Force 2 (ONT-TF2), a provincial Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team specializing in structural collapse and technical rescue. Growing up on a farm in rural Ontario, Matt followed his father into the family business of commercial refrigeration, working on large construction projects. After four years in the trade, he craved something more meaningful. When he discovered the CAF was recruiting medics, he upgraded his credits, enlisted, and shifted his career from trades to medicine. His introduction to rope rescue came during a basic mountaineering course along the Niagara Escarpment. The experience had a lasting impact, and since then, he has made rope and technical rescue a core part of his career. As a firefighter and ONTTF2 team member, he not only responds to emergencies but also instructs on rope and confined space rescue, contributing to the development of SOGs from the outset. Matt believes that being a "technician" isn't about holding a certificate—it's a title earned through genuine proficiency and peer recognition. He challenges himself yearly by participating in advanced training in rope, confined space, structural collapse, and incident command. In 2024, while on a course in North Carolina, he met Mike Halprin of Valor Rescue. Seeing how Valor’s mission aligned with his own training philosophy, he was excited to join the team. Outside of firefighting and rescue, Matt has a passion for problem-solving—whether it's tackling technical terrain on his mountain bike during trips, coding websites (a skill he taught himself during COVID), or road-tripping across North America in his van with his wife and their 14-year-old Australian Shepherd, Jack.