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Sean Sterna
Assistant
About Me
The newest addition to the ArborCanada team, Sean brings with him an extensive background of safety, emergency response and rope skills to the team.
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After starting his journey with a chainsaw in the forestry industry, Sean came into the world of residential arboriculture under the mentorship of a 2nd generation ISA certified arborist in 2014 and has been dedicated to building his skills since. Sean is committed to the mantra of safety and control, constantly seeking innovative ways to make the industry safer and has a passion for sharing those techniques with others. This likely stems from his continued service as a volunteer firefighter with a department just west of Calgary, Alberta. Sean has served with the department as a Fire Captain since 2013, holding certification as a rescue technician in several disciplines and leading in-service training.
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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 running free ride mountain bike tours and teaching rock climbing and rope techniques.
Sean began working with ropes professionally in 2007 when he became a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol. With a passion for rock and ice climbing, alpine mountaineering, skiing and mountain biking, Sean was quickly brought on to the team at a Canadian Rockies resort in the role of Assistant Director. There Sean would be placed in charge of coordinating avalanche control and emergency medical response while leading training on rope rescue and lift evacuation techniques.
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Sean found ArborCanada in 2021 and immediately saw the passion and dedication the instructors taught with. Eager to take in all he could, Sean signed up for the entire open enrolment catalog, taking the techniques that had considerable impact on his learning back to the fire hall to enhance the training experience for the team. The fire crews reacted so positively to the new techniques; Sean needed to learn more. This culminated in his participation in ArborCanada’s Chainsaw Trainer Intensive in Fall 2022.
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Sean owns and operates The Rocky Mountain Arborist and specializes in hazardous removals and technical rigging. Prior to business ownership Sean managed several industry-renowned life safety, security, and emergency response programs for some of the biggest and most well-known properties in Western Canada. We’re thrilled to have Sean bring this extensive focus on leadership to our team!
Business & Previous Experience
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Owner / Contract Climber at The Rocky Mountain Arborist (2021 - Present)
Climbing Arborist at Red Mountain Rigging (2020 - Present)
Climbing Arborist under ISA Certified Arborist (2016 - 2020)
Apprenticeship Arborist under ISA Certified Arborist (2014 - 2016)
Fire Captain at Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (2013 - Present)
Ski Patrol (2007 - 2010)
Qualifications & Memberships​
Arboriculture Canada Chainsaw Trainer Intensive
Arboriculture Canada Qualified Chainsaw Operator Technician
Arboriculture Canada Production Tree Removal & Rigging
Arboriculture Canada Emergency Readiness & High Angle Rescue
Arboriculture Canada Modern Tree Climbing Systems
Arboriculture Canada Hazard & Danger Tree Cutting and Falling
Arboriculture Canada Technical Tree Falling & Cutting
Arboriculture Canada Tree Pruning
Arboriculture Canada Tree Insect & Disease Management
IRATA L1 Rope Access Technician
Rescue 3 International Rope Rescue Technician
Ice Rescue Technician
1001 L2 Firefighter
1041 L2 Fire Service Instructor
1002 Pump Operations
1006 Rescue Technician in Several Disciplines
1021 Fire Officer
1035 Fire Service Public Information Officer
University of Calgary - Bachelor of Science in Earth Science
Dalhousie University - Fire Leadership Certificate