Train the Next Hero Goes National: Free CPR, Choking and Opioid Poisoning Workshops in 6 Cities, November 14 to 28

What is Train the Next Hero?

Train the Next Hero is Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics’ free community CPR event, and it has been teaching people to save lives since 2018. In November 2026, for the first time ever, it goes national: six cities, three weekends and free workshops from Calgary to Halifax.

At every stop, we run short, hands-on workshops for people with no experience at all, plus anyone who wants a refresher. Each workshop focuses on three skills: CPR and AED use, helping someone who is choking, and responding to an opioid poisoning. These are emergencies where the first few minutes matter most, and where the person who helps is usually a family member, a coworker or a stranger.

The goal is simple: get more people ready to act. The more people who know these skills, the better the chances that someone nearby will step in.

Why was Train the Next Hero created?

Train the Next Hero began in North York, the community where Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics has trained Torontonians for more than a decade. On April 23, 2018, a van was driven along the sidewalks of Yonge Street between Finch Avenue and Sheppard Avenue, passing Mel Lastman Square. Ten people were killed that afternoon, more than a dozen others were injured, and an eleventh victim died of her injuries in 2021.

In the minutes after the attack, before paramedics could reach everyone, the people on that street were the first responders. We believe that if more of the people around that day had been trained in first aid and CPR, some of the victims would have had a better chance of survival. That belief is why Train the Next Hero exists.

Less than a month later, on May 19, 2018, we held the first Train the Next Hero at Mel Lastman Square, steps from where the attack happened. The free event has returned in 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and nearly 3,000 people have registered over the years, including 880 in 2025 alone. In 2026, we are taking that same mission to six cities across Canada, so more communities have people ready to step in.

Photos from Train the Next Hero 2024 at Mel Lastman Square

Swipe or scroll sideways to see all 6 photos.

Free CPR Training, Every Year Since 2018

Every Train the Next Hero has been free, hands-on and open to everyone. Since the first event in 2018, nearly 3,000 people have registered to learn what to do in the first minutes of an emergency, and every year more families, students and coworkers leave ready to step in.

What will you learn in the 1-hour workshop?

Every Train the Next Hero workshop is led by Coast2Coast instructors in small groups, so everyone gets hands-on time. The workshop covers three core skills.

CPR and AED

Practise chest compressions on a CPR training manikin: where to place your hands, how hard and how fast to push, and how to keep going until help arrives. You will also see how an automated external defibrillator (AED) works. It talks you through each step and only delivers a shock if one is needed.

Choking

Learn how to recognize when someone is choking and what to do when they cannot cough, speak or breathe, so you can act quickly at home, at work or in a restaurant.

Opioid poisoning

Learn how to recognize the signs of an opioid poisoning, why calling 911 right away matters, and what to do while you wait for help to arrive.

Where and when is Train the Next Hero 2026?

Session times are local time. The dates for each city are in the table above.

Calgary, Edmonton, Windsor, Ottawa and Halifax

Each of these centres runs eight 1-hour workshops:

• Morning and early afternoon: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
• Afternoon and evening: 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

North York (Toronto)

North York runs five 1.5-hour sessions, each with a 1-hour workshop followed by the 8-Minute CPR Challenge:

• 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Every event takes place at the local Coast2Coast training centre, including our Calgary, Windsor and Edmonton centres. The full address is on the Eventbrite page and in your confirmation email.

What is the 8-Minute CPR Challenge in North York?

Eight minutes is roughly how long it can take an ambulance to reach you in many Canadian cities, and in rural areas it can be much longer. That gap is where bystanders make the difference. The challenge puts you in that gap:

1. Step up to the manikin. After your workshop, perform chest compressions on a smart Prestan CPR manikin.
2. Keep going for 8 minutes or more. The goal is to keep up correct compressions, at the right depth and pace, for as long as you can.
3. The manikin keeps score. The smart manikin and its app measure every compression in real time, and only correct compressions count. When you get it right, the app tells the instructor.
4. Make the leaderboard. Whoever lasts longest with correct technique wins the round and joins the Train the Next Hero leaderboard.
5. Win prizes. Winners can win a free certification course or a cash prize.

The challenge is physically demanding, so take part only if you feel comfortable, and stop at any time.

Who should attend?

Train the Next Hero is open to everyone, including:

• People who have always meant to learn CPR but have never taken a course
• Parents, grandparents and caregivers who want to be ready at home
• Students and young adults who want a skill for life
• Friends, families and coworkers who want to learn together, each with their own ticket
• Anyone who wants a refresher after a certification has expired

Is the workshop a certification course?

No. The workshop is a free, 1-hour introduction to the skills that matter most in the first minutes of an emergency, so it does not include a certificate. A full Canadian Red Cross certification needs more time than a single hour allows: typically 4 to 8 hours of in-class training, plus a similar amount of online learning for blended courses, followed by a hands-on skills assessment.

To make the next step easier, every workshop participant receives a special discount on Canadian Red Cross certification courses at Coast2Coast, with details shared at the event. If you need a certificate for work or school, these are the courses to look at:

• CPR/AED courses focus on resuscitation skills.
• Basic First Aid & CPR/AED, formerly Emergency First Aid, is a one-day course.
• Intermediate First Aid & CPR/AED, formerly Standard First Aid, is a two-day course required for many workplaces.

To read more about why these skills matter, see our guide on how CPR saves lives, or find a course at one of our locations across Canada.

How do you register?

1. Choose your city. Use the city buttons on this page to open the right Eventbrite event.
2. Pick your time slot. Choose one session at your local centre.
3. Register with your own email. One ticket per person, one email per ticket.
4. Get your free ticket. Eventbrite emails your ticket and the centre address.
5. Arrive 15 minutes early. Show your ticket at the entrance, check in and sign the participation waiver. There are no walk-ins, and latecomers miss their session.