My name is Debbie Chene.

I can trace my career aspirations back to my early years in the suburbs of Toronto, where I grew up for most of my young life.  Hearing that ambulance go by, I wanted to be a part of helping sick people get better and respond in life’s most critical moments.  I wanted to be a Paramedic….

Sometimes life takes us on an entirely different path due to necessity and practicality. For me, that path took me from the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, to Calgary, Alberta in the oil & gas industry.  My key roles were Logistics Coordinator for oil & gas rig crews and Executive Assistant to the CEO while managing an office and administrative staff. 

Throughout my extensive administrative career, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to areas like Siberia, Russia and Kiev, Ukraine, supporting oil rig crews through joint ventures with oil & gas companies. These roles offered me opportunities to connect with some inspiring and amazing people along the way.

After many incredible years in the oil & gas industry, change was looming and I decided to transition and start something new. During my career transition, a tragic and unexpected event occurred in my family. This event brought me back to my long forgotten goal to become a Paramedic.  I decided to take a leap, try something completely different and pursue that dream. This is where it began, full-time classroom days with around the clock studies and a completely new life challenge. Good-bye high heels….and hello steel-toes!

Empowered by my classmates, amazing instructors and family and friends, I am now a registered Primary Care Paramedic.  Special thanks to my extremely bright study buddy Devan, who helped me get through studying around the clock and endless flash cards! At the end of the day, I believe we helped each other forge through those years.

I am currently the CEO of Debco Safety and also employed as a casual Primary Care Paramedic with Aaron Paramedical Services in Calgary, Alberta. I’m proud of Debco Safety and what we do. We teach certified Canadian Red Cross First Aid and CPR to organizations and communities in and around the Calgary area. Debco also provides Automated External Defibrillators to organizations and homes that want to ensure their employees and families are safe.

In loving memory of Shelby
Forever in our hearts.