This is an election year! The election for SCoP Council is held online each year when needed.
Two members have put their names forward to run for Vice President on Council, and four members have put their names forward to run for the two Member-at-Large positions on Council.
Voting opens Monday, March 30, at noon. Your ballot will be emailed to you! Voting ends April 29.
Please note that SCoP uses a two step process to validate votes:
- Once you vote, you will be sent an email and you must click on the link in your email for your vote to be counted. All votes are confidential and counted one time
Successful candidates will be announced at the AGM on Wednesday, May 6. (9am to noon; 6 continuing education credits; registration opens next week!)
2026 Council Election Biographies
The biographies of the candidates for Vice President are listed in alphabetical order below. You will vote for 1 of the 2 candidates.
Candidates for Vice President:
Robin Focht, ACP, Regina
Robin Focht’s journey in EMS began in 2007 in the quiet, demanding world of rural service. It was there she learned that in paramedicine, adaptability is everything. By 2010, she had stepped into the fast-paced environment of Regina EMS as an Advanced Care Paramedic, eventually becoming the “teacher’s teacher” as an instructor for nearly every acronym in the book—from ACLS to ITLS.
Today, Robin has traded the ambulance for a broader mission. As the Coordinator/Superintendent of Clinical Care and Quality Assurance for the SHA, she uses her decades of frontline experience to shape the future of provincial EMS. Whether she’s serving on the Board of Regina Paramedics with Heart or the ITLS Sask Education Committee, Robin’s career is defined by a single goal: making sure the next generation of medics is even better than the last.
Off the clock, Robin is a summer camping enthusiast who lives in Regina with her husband—and she is currently on a high-stakes mission to find a new four-legged addition to the family this spring.
David Kopperud, ACP, Saskatoon
David Kopperud is an Advanced Care Paramedic in Saskatoon. He currently works as a Deputy Superintendent with Medavie Health Services and supervises B crew. A father of three girls, David has always enjoyed a busy lifestyle, and with two of three still in diapers, he is!
David began his paramedic career in Spiritwood as a PCP in 2014 and started in Saskatoon with MD ambulance in the spring of 2015. After two short years, he made the decision to apply for ACP school and was selected by the senior leadership team. David graduated from the ACP program in the spring of 2019. In the spring of 2021, David was selected for a leadership role as an “Acting Operations Superintendent” and shortly thereafter, became the full-time supervisor for B crew. In this leadership role, David has successfully led approximately 30 paramedics each shift in anywhere from 50-90 calls. With a supportive leadership style, David has a strong focus on ensuring his team are well cared for, especially after challenging calls.
David is a licensed Advanced Care Paramedic and has recently completed a Harvard leadership course offered to leaders within Medavie. David is a 4th dan black belt, with a long history of martial arts experience in both practice as well as coaching, teaching, and refereeing. David is well known within Medavie for his previous role as co-chair of the Peer Support team and is still very involved in bettering the mental health support and awareness for paramedics. In the peer support role, David is also certified/trained through CISM to run diffusings and debriefings. Medavie Health Services West in Saskatoon is the busiest EMS service in Saskatchewan, and with a large number of traumatic and difficult EMS calls, David has had the privilege in running debriefings for those staff that are in need.
David was selected for an international mission with Medavie to recruit paramedics from abroad. In the fall of 2023, David was a part of a team that travelled to Australia and successfully selected/hired many paramedics to come and work in Canada. David will remain involved in the onboarding process as these new recruits settle into the new, cold environment! As a supervisor, David attends to the highest acuity calls involving major trauma, cardiac arrest, mass casualty events, etc. David has effectively ran some of the most challenging cases paramedics face.
David has been an instructor as SaskPolytech for 4+ years now, teaching both the Primary and Advanced Care programs. David was also recently awarded one of the ambassador positions at Medavie, in where he represents the paramedic industry/profession at recruitment/engagement opportunities or events.
Over the past year, David has served as a SCoP council member (member-at-large). In closing, David would be a suitable candidate for the Vice President role within SCoP and is clearly motivated to positively effect change and help grow the profession. Focused on progressiveness and engaging with members, David will listen to the members and their concerns and make any and every effort to better the paramedic industry.
Candidates for Member-at-Large:
The biographies of the candidates for the Member-at-large positions are listed in alphabetical order below. You will vote for 2 of the 4 candidates.
Jon Antal, CCP, Regina
Jon Antal is a Critical Care Paramedic with 31 years of progressive leadership and frontline experience in Emergency Medical Services. He currently serves as the EMS Training Captain for Regina Fire and Protective Services, where he oversees clinical education, operational readiness, and professional development for Firefighter Paramedics.
From 2025–2026, Jon held the role of Deputy Chief for the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s EMS South Central portfolio, providing strategic leadership, system oversight, and operational coordination for a diverse regional EMS workforce.
For more than a decade, Jon contributed significantly to aeromedical critical care as the Outreach Education Lead and a Critical Care Paramedic with STARS Air Ambulance (2012–2025). In this dual role, he delivered high acuity patient care while developing and delivering simulation based education and clinical training to partners across Saskatchewan.
Jon’s leadership experience also includes key roles within acute care. He served as Manager of Emergency at the Regina General Hospital (2019–2022), guiding multidisciplinary teams in a high volume tertiary emergency department. Previously, he managed the Dilawri Simulation Centre (2017–2019), advancing clinical education through high fidelity simulation and interprofessional training initiatives.
From 2008–2012, Jon contributed to professional regulation and standards development as an elected member of the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics Council.
Jon is recognized for his deep clinical expertise, commitment to healthcare system improvement, and passion for advancing the paramedic profession through education, mentorship, and leadership.
Ian Brown, CCP, Regina
Ian Brown is a Critical Care Paramedic working for STARS in Regina. Over the course of his career, Ian has worked in a variety of settings including ground, air (fixed wing and rotary), remote clinic, and in the emergency department. A large portion of Ian’s career has been with La Ronge EMS as the Team Leader, where his responsibilities included QA/QI, education, and working closely with the Medical Director to create local clinical practice guidelines.
Ian completed the Regina PCP program in 2014, Saskatoon ACP program in 2018, STARS Academy in 2024, and STARS induction training in 2025. Ian is a passionate educator, holding instructor status in BLS, ACLS, PALS, ITLS, and CAMATA (Aeromedical Transport). He has delivered education within the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Paramedic Programs, the Medical Emergency Response Training program at RCMP depot, and at the annual SSFRCC First Responder Conference in Moose Jaw.
Ian has volunteered with St. John Ambulance, the Canadian Ski Patrol, Search and Rescue, and as an appraiser for the Dalhousie Division of EMS Prehospital Evidence Based Practice Program.
Ian has completed two terms on the SCoP Discipline Committee and currently sits on the Education Committee. He values innovation, transparency, accountability, and collaboration, and hopes to see more grassroots research to strengthen evidence-based practice. He is committed to supporting an adaptive organization capable of evolving alongside the ever-changing landscape of paramedicine.
Donna Dohms, ICP, Estevan
Donna Dohms is an Intermediate Care Paramedic for Saskatchewan Health Authority EMS serving Estevan. She has been employed full time since 1989, where she has had the pleasure of serving in various communities including Estevan, Melville, Moosomin, Humboldt, Preeceville and Nipawin. Donna’s experience is in rural, urban, CEC facility, supervisory, and as an EMS Education Coordinator. She is also a member of the Provincial Peer Support Team for group and individual peer support.
Donna began as an EMR in 1989, achieving her EMT/PCP in 1991 at SIAST. Shortly after, she achieved her EMT-A/ICP in 1997 and still continue to advance her education through University of Regina learning opportunities. Donna has also been an instructor for St. John Ambulance, HSF, and Red Cross for 23 years, deciding to retire from teaching to allow for up-and-coming instructors to gain experience and advance.
Donna served on the SCoP Education Committee from its inception in 2010 to 2013 and was active on the Audit Committee, the Protocol Committee, and on the Paramedic Practice Committee with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. She was active on Council from 2022 to 2024 and has enjoyed serving her peers in this capacity. Donna feels it is very rewarding to be a part of designing how our profession advances. She encourage others to consider joining in this capacity as well, as the Paramedic profession is about to see incredible advancement in the near future, which you should have a voice in designing. In 2011, Donna was humbly honored with the Governor Generals Exemplary Services award in EMS.
Donna currently resides in Estevan where she is employed full time and will become integrated into the community with various volunteer activities and interests. During the summer she can be seen cruising the highways on two wheels, and volunteering with the PTSD foundation called Rolling Barrage when they tour through the province in August every year.
In running for Council, Donna hopes her broad experience base will supplement her ability to collaborate with the team members on Council and the other interested parties like PSCS and Sask Polytech to make sound decisions for our future.
Michael Hengstler, ACP, Regina
Michael Hengstler is an Advanced Care Paramedic, educator, and healthcare leader based in Regina, Saskatchewan, with extensive experience in frontline paramedicine, paramedic education, and professional governance. He is recognized for delivering high-quality prehospital care, mentoring paramedics at all stages of their careers, and advancing clinical excellence through training, quality assurance, and system improvement.
In addition to his operational role, Michael serves as Paramedic Faculty at Saskatchewan Polytechnic where he has contributed to the modernization of paramedic education through the integration of advanced simulation technology, contemporary simulation methodologies, electronic documentation, and virtual learning environments. His work extends nationally as an Accreditation Surveyor with Accreditation Canada, where he evaluates paramedic education programs and supports the maintenance of professional standards across Canada.
Michael is actively involved in provincial leadership, having chaired and served on multiple committees that influence paramedic education, scope of practice, and trauma care policy. A recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, he brings a disciplined, evidence-informed approach to advancing paramedic practice through leadership, education, and clinical policy development.