Full Name
Joel McDonald
Job Title
Board of Executives
Organization
APCO Canada
Speaker Bio
Joel McDonald has spent the last two decades studying and working in the field of Emergency Services.

Joel currently works for the City of Lethbridge as Operations Manager for the Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC). The Lethbridge PSCC serves the City of Lethbridge along with multiple communities and municipalities in Southern Alberta providing emergency communication services for 911, Police, Fire, EMS, and Peace Officers. Prior to being the Operations Manager, Joel spent 8 years as a Communications Specialist for 9-1-1 and was an Emergency call taker/dispatcher for Police, Fire, and Ambulance. Joel is Certified through the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) as an Emergency Number Professional (ENP), and is a certified Emergency Police Dispatch – Quality Assurance reviewer (EPD-Q).

Joel started his career in Emergency Medicine as a Licensed Emergency Medical Responder. In 2003 Joel began working in the Industrial Sector operating Emergency Transport vehicles and providing field education and implementation of safety protocols for companies in the Oil & Gas Industry. Joel continued his education in Emergency Medicine and has been a Licensed and Practicing Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) with the Alberta College of Paramedics for the last 10 years. In addition to a full time career Managing the Operations of the Communication Centre, Joel also works part time as a paramedic to maintain his pre-hospital skills and to remain current with the aspects of emergency services field work in the community he serves.

For the last 6 years Joel has served APCO Canada on the Board of Directors for 4 years, as well as 2 years volunteering his time to assist as a Membership Liaison and to manage the Social Media content and feeds for APCO Canada. Joel has been a keynote and guest speaker for APCO conferences across Canada since 2010 speaking on Leadership, Liability, Morale, and Mental Health topics for target audiences ranging from trainees to Managers.
Joel also volunteers his spare time by coaching his kids in sports, being the Promotions Director for the Lethbridge Ringette Associations, as well as being Chairman for the Parent Council at his kids’ school.

Joel demonstrates a continued commitment to fostering a culture of public service that earns the trust respect and confidence of the communities he serves.
Joel McDonald