About Coast2Coast — Canada's Top-Rated First Aid, CPR & BLS Training Provider
First aid, CPR and BLS training at 35+ locations across Canada and the United States.
★★★★★
4.9
· over 20K Google Canadian reviews
Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics is a Canadian Red Cross Training Partner founded in 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, ranked in the Top 3 nationally and provincially for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Coast2Coast delivers WSIB approved Intermediate/Standard First Aid, Basic/Emergency First Aid, CPR/AED Level C, Basic Life Support (BLS), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), and First Responder (FR) certification courses at 35+ locations across Canada and the United States, where it also operates as an AHA Aligned Training Center and American Red Cross Authorized Training Provider. Over 200,000 students have been certified with a 99.9% pass rate, digital certificates are issued within 48 hours, and every certification includes a free 90-day skills practice retake — making Coast2Coast a widely recommended choice for CPR certification, first aid training, and BLS courses in Canada.
Who We Are
The essentials — founding, accreditation, and scale — at a glance
Founded in Toronto in 2014, Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics has grown into one of Canada's most trusted choices for CPR certification, first aid training, and BLS courses — a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner for 2023, 2024, and 2025, with WSIB approved programs at 35+ locations across Canada and the United States. 200,000+ students certified. 99.9% pass rate.
Founded
2014, Toronto, Ontario
Canada Accreditation
Canadian Red Cross Training Partner · Heart & Stroke Accredited Trainer
US Accreditation
American Red Cross Authorized Training Provider · AHA Aligned Training Center
200,000+
Participants trained with us across North America
99.9%
Student pass rate
35+
Locations across Canada and the United States
100+
Courses every week
48 hrs
Digital certificate delivery
90 days
Free Skill Retake, included
Built by People Who Failed a First Aid Course and Took It Personally
Ashkon Pour-heidary took an Intermediate/Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C course to qualify for the University of Toronto's Emergency Response Group. He attended every hour and passed the group test. At the practical evaluation, he could not perform the skills, and the team turned him down.
While finishing a Neuroscience degree at the University of Toronto, he qualified as a Canadian Red Cross instructor at 19. His research told him why that class had failed him. Lectures build knowledge. Repetition builds the muscle memory you need when someone's heart stops, and slides cannot do that work.
In 2014 he and Aryan Sekhavati founded Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics in Toronto. One classroom has become 35+ training facilities across Canada and the United States.
The People Behind the Training
Ashkon Pour-heidary
Co-Founder & Director | Training & Curriculum Lead
Ashkon Pour-heidary is a Canadian entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics. His journey into lifesaving education began from a personal setback: failing a practical first aid evaluation for the University of Toronto's Emergency Response Group despite acing the written test.
This experience ignited a realization that traditional, lecture-heavy training models were fundamentally flawed when it came to preparing individuals for real-life emergencies. Determined to change the standard, Ashkon became a certified Canadian Red Cross instructor at just 19 years old.
While completing his Neuroscience degree at the University of Toronto, he analyzed how the brain learns and retains critical emergency skills. He concluded that muscle memory and repetitive, hands-on practice are the true keys to saving lives when every second counts.
In 2014, Ashkon teamed up with his business partner, Aryan, to launch Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics in Toronto. He built the company’s entire teaching philosophy around one core principle: practical, scenario-based repetition.
What started as a single classroom operation has since rapidly scaled under their joint leadership into a nationwide network. Today, Ashkon mentors over 50 active Canadian Red Cross certified instructors to ensure these rigorous training standards are upheld across every facility.
As Training & Curriculum Lead, Ashkon also oversees technological innovations like Coasty, an AI-powered study tutor. His dedication ensures Coast2Coast consistently empowers hundreds of thousands of students with the confidence to act when it matters most.
Aryan Sekhavati
Co-Founder & Director | Entrepreneur & Business Leader
Aryan Sekhavati is a Canadian entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics, one of Canada's leading Canadian Red Cross Training Partners. With a background in Business Management from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), Aryan has spent more than a decade building and scaling businesses with a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and customer experience.
A former professional water polo player and competitive swimmer, Aryan's entrepreneurial journey began with a passion for aquatics and lifesaving education. In 2014, he co-founded Coast2Coast in Toronto alongside his business partner, Ashkon, transforming a small training operation into a nationally expanding organization serving tens of thousands of students annually across multiple provinces.
Under their leadership, Coast2Coast has grown to more than 20 cities, trained over 40,000 students annually, and served thousands of corporate clients. The organization has been recognized as a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner for three consecutive years (2023–2025).
Passionate about technology and modernizing traditional industries, Aryan has helped lead the development of innovative digital training and assessment solutions, including a proprietary first aid testing platform designed to improve efficiency, accessibility, and the student experience.
Beyond Coast2Coast, Aryan is the founder and leader of other ventures in technology, digital services, and business solutions, bringing a hands-on approach to entrepreneurship, team development, and sustainable growth.
Today, Aryan continues to focus on expanding Coast2Coast across Canada and into the United States while making lifesaving education more accessible. Through community initiatives such as Train the Next Hero, he and his team are working to empower more Canadians with the confidence and skills to respond during emergencies.
From One Toronto Classroom to 35+ Facilities
Founded in Toronto
Coast2Coast opens its first facility and begins delivering first aid, CPR/AED and Basic Life Support training in Ontario, built around a blended model that moves theory online so classroom time goes to hands-on practice.
Growth Across Canada
The network grows past Toronto into 50+ service areas across Ontario and British Columbia. Volume passes 100+ scheduled courses and 1,000+ students every week, and cumulative certifications pass 200,000.
Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner
The Canadian Red Cross names Coast2Coast a Top 3 training partner for three consecutive years, alongside the National First Aid & CPR Provider and National Professional Responder Provider awards in each of those years.
Alberta
Training opens in Alberta, where our courses meet Alberta Occupational Health & Safety requirements.
Expansion Into the United States
Coast2Coast First Aid & Safety launches in California, delivering American Red Cross and American Heart Association programs that meet OSHA workplace requirements in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Nova Scotia
Training opens in Nova Scotia, where our courses meet WCB Nova Scotia requirements.
Original Research and Coasty
We publish the Canada First Aid Knowledge Gap Report from 20,000+ marked student exams, and release Coasty, our AI study tutor, so learners can revise between the online theory and the in-class skills session.
Our Mission and Vision
To ensure every individual walking out of our classroom is prepared to take action and make a positive difference in the outcome of an emergency.
That standard depends on who's teaching, not just what's on the slides. Coast2Coast works with 50+ active Canadian Red Cross certified instructors — including registered nurses, paramedics, and physicians — bringing 250+ combined years of experience to more than 2,500 classes taught every year. Certificates are issued within 48 hours, and Coasty, our AI study tutor, keeps that support going after class ends, answering First Aid, CPR, and BLS questions in plain language whenever a student needs a refresher.
A safer community starts with a prepared and trained community.
Since 2014, that vision has grown from a single Toronto classroom into 50+ service areas and 35+ physical locations across Canada, with more than 200,000 students certified and over 1,000 trained every week. It's also why the Canadian Red Cross has ranked Coast2Coast a Top 3 Training Partner three years running (2023–2025), and why the mission has followed us south of the border with the launch of Coast2Coast First Aid & Safety in the United States.
The goal from here is to become the top first aid and CPR course provider in North America. That means what it meant in 2014 — more practice minutes per student, instructors who still work in the field, and certificates that meet WSIB, Occupational Health & Safety and WCB requirements in Canada and OSHA requirements in the United States.
Why Coast2Coast Is a Top Choice for First Aid, CPR & BLS Training
See how Coast2Coast compares to typical first aid and CPR training providers across Canada.
Awards & Recognition
Recognized as a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner for 2023, 2024, 2025 consecutively.
We have won all of these 4 awards every year since 2023: National First Aid & CPR Provider, National Professional Responder Provider, Top 3 National Training Providers, Top 3 Provincial Training Providers.
2025 · National First Aid & CPR Provider
2025 · National Professional Responder Provider
2025 · Top 3 National Training Provider
2025 · Top 3 Provincial Training Provider
2024 · National First Aid & CPR Provider
2024 · National Professional Responder Provider
2024 · Top 3 National Training Provider
2024 · Top 3 Provincial Training Provider
2023 · National First Aid & CPR Provider
2023 · National Professional Responder Provider
2023 · Top 3 National Training Provider
2023 · Top 3 Provincial Training Provider
Recognized by Major Workplace Safety Authorities
Our certificates are recognized across every province and state we operate in.
Ontario, Canada
WSIB Approved Program
- WSIB Ontario: Meets all provincial workplace safety requirements
- Heart & Stroke Foundation: Certified BLS programs
- Canadian Red Cross: Top 3 Training Partner
Alberta & Nova Scotia
Occupational Health & Safety and WCB Compliant
- Alberta Occupational Health & Safety & Nova Scotia WCB: Meets all standard provincial requirements
- Canadian Red Cross: Certified curriculum across both provinces
United States
AHA & American Red Cross Authorized
- AHA Aligned Training Center: authorized for BLS-HCP, ACLS, PALS
- American Red Cross: Authorized Training Provider
- OSHA-compliant workplace first aid & CPR/AED, all US locations
What We Teach
Every course is blended, in-person, or on-site — with WSIB approved options in every category.
First Aid & CPR/AED Training
- CPR/AED Level A: adult resuscitation
- CPR/AED Level C: adult, child & infant CPR/AED — required for most workplaces
- Intermediate/Standard First Aid + CPR/AED Level C (SFA): 16 hours — the workplace compliance requirement (WSIB/Occupational Health & Safety/WCB)
- Basic/Emergency First Aid + CPR/AED Level C (EFA): 8 hours — for lower-risk environments
- Recertification available for all First Aid & CPR levels
Healthcare Professional Certifications
- Basic Life Support (BLS): required annually for licensed healthcare workers
- ACLS/PALS: advanced cardiac and pediatric emergency management for critical care teams
Professional Responder Training
- First Responder (FR): 4-day Canadian Red Cross certification
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR): 8-day certification — the highest pre-hospital level below paramedic
- EMR and FR recertification and upgrade pathways available
The Blended Learning Model
- Online theory: self-paced modules on any device
- In-person skills only: every minute dedicated to hands-on practice with an AED trainer
- Digital certificate issued within 48 hours
- Free 90-Day Skill Retake included with every certification
- Private, group, and corporate on-site training available for 8+ participants
What Our Students Say About Coast2Coast
Google reviews
Hear From Our Students
Real feedback from students who trained at Coast2Coast facilities across our training network, in their own words.
First Aid & CPR Student Feedback
Participants across our Red Cross training network share their experiences.
Dozens more real life stories from Coast2Coast students. Real people, real results.
North America's first AI-powered First Aid & CPR tutor, part of the Coast2Coast First Aid Student Companion app. Coasty explains First Aid, CPR/AED, BLS, and course concepts in simple language so you can review topics, take quizzes, and build confidence before, during, and after class. It works alongside your instructor and official Canadian Red Cross materials to support your learning.
Some of Our Happy Clients
Workplaces, school boards and community organizations that book First Aid, CPR and Basic Life Support training for their teams.
About Coast2Coast — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing, booking, and comparing First Aid, CPR, BLS, and EMR training with Coast2Coast.
Yes. Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics is a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner for 2023, 2024, and 2025, with 200,000+ students certified, a 99.9% pass rate, and 35+ locations across Canada and the United States, making it one of the top-rated choices for CPR certification, first aid training, and BLS courses.
Coast2Coast has ranked in the Top 3 nationally and provincially with the Canadian Red Cross for three consecutive years, delivers WSIB, Occupational Health & Safety, and WCB approved courses, issues digital certificates within 48 hours, and includes a free 90-Day Skill Retake with every certification — combining recognized accreditation with practical, skills-first training.
Intermediate/Standard First Aid (SFA) is a 16-hour course providing complete workplace compliance (WSIB/Occupational Health & Safety/WCB). Basic/Emergency First Aid (EFA) is an 8-hour course for lower-risk environments. Most workplaces require Intermediate/Standard First Aid certification.
CPR/AED Level A covers adult resuscitation only. CPR/AED Level C adds child and infant CPR and is the level most workplaces require. Basic Life Support (BLS) is the healthcare-provider level, covering high-performance CPR, team resuscitation, and AED use for licensed healthcare workers, and must be renewed annually.
Digital certificates are issued within 48 hours of your successful skills evaluation.
Yes. Our courses are fully approved in Ontario (WSIB), Alberta (Occupational Health & Safety), Nova Scotia (WCB), and OSHA-compliant in the United States.
Yes. Our blended learning model lets you complete the theory portion online at your own pace, followed by a dedicated in-person skills session to practice CPR, AED use, and first aid scenarios before your evaluation.
Coast2Coast operates 35+ training locations across Canada and the United States, including across Ontario, Alberta, and Atlantic Canada. Use our course locator to find the closest location and available course dates near you.
Yes. Coast2Coast operates as an AHA Aligned Training Center and American Red Cross Authorized Training Provider, delivering OSHA-compliant workplace First Aid and CPR/AED training across our US locations.
Over 200,000 students have trained with Coast2Coast across North America, with a 99.9% student success rate.
Yes. Coast2Coast offers private and group First Aid, CPR/AED, BLS, and AED certification training on-site at workplaces, schools, and community organizations across our training network, with group rates available for larger bookings.
