Our Work

About Us.

Alder Health Foundation is a healthcare education company bringing life-saving knowledge to communities across the Pacific West Coast — starting with first aid. Here's what we've done so far, and what's coming next.

Alder students practicing secondary assessment on the classroom floor at Langara College

Chapter one · July 2026

Our first classes.

On July 9, 2026, Alder Health Foundation taught its first Emergency First Aid with CPR-C and AED courses at Langara College — two evening sessions for Langara's Sports Medicine students, full Canadian Red Cross curriculum, blended format, and 100% volunteer-driven.

The idea was simple: prove that high-quality first aid certification doesn't have to be expensive or hard to find. At $45 a student — and with costs covered personally for anyone who couldn't afford it — 36 students earned credentials recognized across the country, learning choking response, CPR, AED use, stroke recognition, and secondary assessment hands-on, with real gear, in a real classroom.

"I walked in nervous and walked out confident — for the first time, I feel like I could actually help someone in an emergency."
— Jordan Ellis, EFA student

That proof of concept became everything Alder is building now: affordable certification, free community coaching, and outreach across the Pacific West Coast.

The first classes, by the numbers

0

Community Members Certified

0

Classes Delivered

0

Hours of Hands-On Instruction

$45

Cost Per Student

From the classroom

It looked like this.

Alder founder Nick demonstrating choking response on a child manikin at Langara College
Choking response, demonstrated up close — then practiced until it stuck.
Alder-branded pocket masks, AED trainer, and first aid supplies laid out for class
All students were supplied with their own pocket mask to keep — preparing them for a future emergency.

What they learned

Thirty-six neighbours walked out able to do this.

Choking response

Back blows and abdominal thrusts for adults, children, and infants — drilled on the manikin until it was muscle memory.

CPR

Chest compressions and rescue breathing, with coaching on rhythm, depth, and the confidence to start.

AED use

How to grab a defibrillator and use it without hesitation — because early defibrillation saves lives.

Secondary assessment

SAMPLE histories, vital signs, and head-to-toe checks — the calm, systematic habit of a real responder.

What's next

First dates landing soon.

We're finalizing venues and dates for our next round of community coaching sessions and certification courses. The calendar below will fill in as events are confirmed.

Recurring · Free

Alder First Aid Coaching — biweekly

Our free, drop-in coaching sessions run every two weeks at a community centre. Dates and locations will be posted here as they're confirmed.

Certification · $45

Red Cross Certification Courses

Scheduled certification courses for individuals and groups. Join the list below and we'll notify you when the next course opens.

Want first dibs on new dates? Sign up for our newsletter in the footer — we'll announce every new class and event there first.

What's next

This story is still being written.

As we complete outreach events, community projects, and partnerships, we'll document them here — the neighbourhoods visited, the people trained, and what we learned along the way.

Want to be part of the next chapter? Get involved or bring Alder to your community.