Free one-hour CPR, choking and opioid poisoning workshops will visit six Canadian cities in 16 days, from Calgary on November 14 to Halifax on November 29, 2026
CALGARY, AB, November 2026: Coast2Coast First Aid Calgary, the first location of Coast2Coast First Aid, a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner, will launch the first national tour of Train the Next Hero, its free CPR training event, on Saturday, November 14, 2026. Edmonton shares the national kickoff the same day. The tour then continues to Windsor, North York in Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax, six cities in 16 days.
The workshops are free and open to the public, and no experience is needed. Each one-hour session covers CPR, how to recognize and respond to choking, and how to recognize an opioid poisoning and what to do until help arrives. Participants practise in small groups on CPR manikins, with all equipment provided, and sessions are led by Canadian Red Cross certified instructors. Spots are limited and a free Eventbrite ticket is required for each person.
Where the Event Began
Train the Next Hero began in North York after the Yonge Street van attack on April 23, 2018. In the minutes after the attack, the people on the street were the first to help. Less than a month later, on May 19, 2018, Coast2Coast held the first Train the Next Hero at Mel Lastman Square. Nearly 3,000 people have registered for the event since, including 880 in 2025. In 2026, for the first time, the event leaves Ontario to tour the country.
“Train the Next Hero is our way of giving back to the communities that have supported us, and of making Canada safer, one hero at a time. Starting our first national tour in Calgary and Edmonton means more Albertans will know how to step in and save a life before help arrives,” said Aryan Sekhavati, Co-Founder of Coast2Coast First Aid.
The 2026 Tour: Six Cities in 16 Days
Calgary and Edmonton open the tour on November 14, followed by Windsor on November 15. The tour returns to where it all began on November 21 in North York, then moves to Ottawa on November 22 and finishes with a grand finale in Halifax on November 29. Workshops run in one-hour sessions throughout each event day.
The 8-Minute CPR Challenge in North York
The North York stop on November 21 adds a new element: the 8-Minute CPR Challenge. Eight minutes is roughly how long it can take an ambulance to reach someone in many Canadian cities. After the workshop, participants step up to a smart Prestan CPR manikin and try to keep up correct chest compressions for eight minutes or more, with the manikin and its app measuring every compression in real time. Winners can win a free certification course or a cash prize. The challenge runs only at the North York event.
For those who cannot attend in person, Coast2Coast’s online CPR Challenge simulates real-world CPR as a game, so people can see what it feels like and build confidence before they ever need it.
How to Register
The workshops are free, but spots are limited and a free Eventbrite ticket is required. Each person registers with their own email address, there are no walk-ins, and late arrivals cannot join a later session. Registration links for all six cities are available on the Train the Next Hero 2026 page.
Media are welcome to attend and film the workshops. To arrange interviews or filming times, contact Godwin Orilua at marketing@c2cfirstaidaquatics.com or 1-866-291-9121.
About the Training
Train the Next Hero is an introductory workshop and does not include a certificate. A full Canadian Red Cross certification typically requires 4 to 8 hours of in-class training, plus a similar amount of online learning for blended courses, followed by a skills assessment. Workshop participants will be offered a discount on full certification courses. Coast2Coast’s first location in Calgary offers Canadian Red Cross first aid and CPR training year-round, including Alberta OHS approved first aid and CPR courses.
About Coast2Coast First Aid
Founded in Toronto in 2014, Coast2Coast First Aid is an Authorized Training Partner for the Canadian Red Cross and has been named a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner. It delivers First Aid, CPR/AED, Basic Life Support and Professional Responder programs from more than 35 locations and 50 service areas across Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. Learn more at https://www.c2cfirstaidaquatics.com/.
Media Contact
Godwin Orilua
SEO Specialist and Marketing Coordinator
Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics
marketing@c2cfirstaidaquatics.com
1-866-291-9121
https://www.c2cfirstaidaquatics.com/
