Our Professionals

Theo Kowalchuk

CRSP, CHSC, B.Sc.Ag., Certified COR Auditor 

President and CEO 

Theo has over 20 years experience as a business owner and entrepreneur, and over 12 years of safety management related experience, working both locally and internationally as a consultant and trainer.  She also has 10 years experience working as a Paramedic, witnessing firsthand the acute affects of workplace injuries and illness. This background drives her two passions related to safety management:

1. To have an impact on sending workers home to their families safe and healthy at the end of the workday.
2. To provide businesses with the peace of mind and the freedom to operate that comes from mitigating the risks associated with Workplace Safety and Health loss and liability.

Theo is a Board Certified Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and a Certified Safety and Health Consultant (Canadian Society of Safety Engineers). She is both a Lloyds Register and a COR certified auditor providing external audits for the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.  Theo is a requested presenter to the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Accident Prevention Association of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Construction Safety Association Professional Development Conferences. She is also an instructor for Red River College, Occupational Safety and Health Certificate Program.

Theo is Vice President of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering 2009-2010, a member in good standing with Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals and sits on the AED Guidelines Committee of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

Caroline Sweeney

Chief Operating Officer

Caroline Sweeney has 25 years experience in all facets of business management. As the COO for 1 Life, she will spearhead building the infrastructure required to support our growth and expansion.

Prior to joining 1Life, Caroline held executive positions at a global benefits consulting firm and a world-leading electronic information display system company. She has also consulted to both large and small companies in the financial services, food distribution, adult education and biotechnology industries.

Caroline’s skills and talents will be invaluable as we launch our newest virtual web-based product, mySafetyAssistant (MSA) into the Manitoba marketplace.

Sarah Den Ouden

Sales Consultant

Sarah is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg where she obtained her bachelor of Arts degree.  She is also a graduate of the Red River College, Commerce Industry Sales and Marketing program.

Sarah has been involved in Workplace Safety and Health previously with Quintex, where she headed up their Manitoba Compliance Industrial First Aid Service.

Sarah brings to 1Life Workplace Safety and Health a passion for working with people in partnerships to create solutions for individuals and their organizations.

Dan Rummery

CRM, CET, Certified COR Auditor, Consultant

Dan has over 10 years of experience in the fields of occupational safety and health, enterprise risk management and environmental engineering. Prior to becoming a specialized provider of these corporate services, Dan served as a soldier in the Canadian Forces as an Army Combat Engineer where he witnessed first-hand the critical importance of safety on the job. Dan holds the professional designations of Canadian Risk Manager (CRM) and of Certified Engineering Technologist (CET). Dan’s diverse work experiences include:

• Corporate Safety, Health & Risk Management with Manitoba Conservation and Manitoba Water Stewardship
• Manager of Safety, Health and Loss Prevention with Nelson River Construction
• Coordinator of Environmental Operations, Safety & Health, Emergency Medical
• Response and Hazardous Materials with Magellan Aerospace Corporation
• Environmental Assessment and Remediation for Wardrop Engineering and O’Connor Associates Environmental Inc., working exclusively with multi-national petrochemical corporations

Dan is a member of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Global Risk Management Institute and the Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba.

Vlieta Thomson

RN, OHN, Consultant

Vlieta brings over 30 years experience as a diversified health care professional. She has worked as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Hospital setting specializing in Intensive care and Emergency care and in the recent years as an Occupational Health Nurse in a wide range of industries including:

• drywall and corrugated paper manufacturing
• fire truck assembly 
• cast iron foundry
• heavy duty trucking sales & service
• telecommunications

Vlieta is a licensed Audiometric Technician with an in-depth knowledge of the Workplace Safety and Health Act and it's application in the workplace. Her care and compassion shine through to everyone she meets and we are blessed to have her as an integral part of our Respirator Fit Testing Program and team!

Audrey Bridges

Office Administrator

Audrey brings fifteen years of office administration and management experience to 1Life Workplace Safety & Health Ltd. Over the course of her career, she has worked in a wide range of office environments taking on a very diverse assortment of duties and responsibilities. Her exceptional multi-tasking and organizational skills are a valuable asset.

1Life Workplace Safety & Health enjoys Audrey's upbeat personality and positive attitude as she keeps our administration running efficiently!

Kate Hudson

Client Support/Sales Administrator                           

Kate is a recent graduate from the University of Winnipeg, with a Human Resource Diploma and Management Certificate.

Kate brings six years of customer service experience along with excellent planning and prioritizing skills and a strong desire to help others while building and maintaining lasting relationships.

Grant Jones

CET, CHSC, CSO, Certified COR Auditor, Consultant

Grant is an extremely versatile occupational safety and health professional. He has extensive, broad-based experience in Workplace Safety and Health, Project Management, Operations, Quality Control and Environmental Management. He is a trained facilitator with a solid background in Total Quality Concepts. He is an accredited and practicing COR External Auditor, a Construction Safety Officer and a Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) accredited through the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering. (CSSE) Grant’s work experience includes:

• Regulatory compliance audits as part of an Environmental Health and Safety team for Pittsburg Paint and Glass in Winnipeg, Pratt & Whitney in Calgary and Koch Minerals in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
• Developed Critical Task List and SWP’s for new Winnipeg water treatment plant.
• Previous program advisor for OH&S and QMS, AECOM Manitoba.
• Development of Inland Aggregates Canada Cross-Over Safety Audit system.
• External auditor for the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association COR program.
• External auditor for the City of Winnipeg Contractor Evaluation process.
• Safety Management System audits for such organizations as Lafarge Canada and Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation.

Grant is a member in good standing with Canadian Society of Safety Engineering and requested presented each year at the annual Manitoba Construction Conference.

Rob Chin

Advanced Care Paramedic, First Aid Instructor Trainer.

Rob is a veteran City of Winnipeg Paramedic and Red Cross First Aid Instructor Trainer. He is a gifted communicator and trainer and always gets rave reviews from participants in the First Aid / CPR/ AED training that he facilitates!

Rob is a true teacher; always giving of his knowledge with passion and heart.

Ryan Frost

Fire/Paramedic, First Aid Instructor

Ryan brings his hands on experience as a professional fire fighter / paramedic to our first aid and emergency response training programs.  Some of Ryans accomplishments include:

• Fire Fighter, acting Captain, Winnipeg Airport Authority
• Captain Firefighter, Stoney Mountain / Rockwood Fire Department
• Red Cross First Aid/CPR and Automated External Defibrillator Instructor
• Primary Care Paramedic (CMA accredited, meets PAC competencies)
• Hazardous Materials – Awareness & Operations (NFPA 472, accredited with IFSAC)
• Emergency Services Instructor Level 2(NFPA 1041, accredited with IFSAC)
• Fire and Life Safety Educator, (NFPA 1035, accredited with IFSAC)
• Fire Inspector I & II, (NFPA 1031, accredited with IFSAC)