Six years ago, the Markham Extrication Team started with a sawzall, some homemade cribbing, and second-hand tools that were broken more times than they worked. We were undeniably in over our heads, learning the ropes of technical rescue by watching YouTube videos to figure out how international competitions even operated.
Fast forward to today: our educational training videos have surpassed over one million views, we’ve represented Canada on the world stage in Croatia (finishing 16th out of 32 global teams), and we were recognized as one of the top 10 stories of 2025 by Canadian Firefighter Magazine.
The Spark and the Foundation: Ray Lalonde, Brad Sterling & Howie Tse
If you look at where we are now, it’s easy to see the polished competition runs and the elite training facilities. But the entire journey started with a single great idea.
Captain Ray Lalonde of Markham Fire was the true spark behind this entire program. He was the one who had the vision to start an auto extrication team in the first place, recognizing how much a dedicated rescue team could elevate our skills and serve our community.
Once Ray set the wheels in motion, original foundational members Brad Sterling and Howie Tse stepped up to help with the grueling heavy lifting to build the groundwork. When we had absolutely nothing, Ray, Brad and Howie were the driving force—scouring the internet to learn how international competitions worked, tracking down scrap yards where we could train, and relentlessly motivating the rest of us to join the ranks.
Ray’s initial vision, combined with Brad and Howie’s relentless drive, is the absolute bedrock of MarkhamXT. They built the foundation so the rest of us could stand on it.
Powered by Incredible Partnerships: Amkus & Standard Auto Wreckers
That same relentless spirit helped us secure partnerships that changed everything. This Academy simply would not be possible without them.
Our ability to stand toe-to-toe with the world's best is directly fueled by Amkus Rescue Systems. Their immense generosity in sponsoring our team with state-of-the-art rescue tools has allowed us to train and compete at an elite level.
Pairing those world-class Amkus tools with our partnership with David Gold and the crew at Standard Auto Wreckers created the perfect training ground. Dave and his team have relentlessly supported us by providing a dedicated space and donating over $100,000 worth of vehicles completely free of charge for us to cut up every single week.
Because of Ray, Brad and Howie's initial spark, and the incredible backing of Amkus and Standard Auto Wreckers, we have had the rare privilege to train like no other team in Canada. Now, we are opening those doors to the rest of the fire service.
Shifting from Standard to Elite Operations
At the World Rescue Organisation (WRO) fields, we learned how to thrive under pressure, adapt to chaotic environments, and view unexpected hurdles as massive opportunities (like scrambling for headlamps to execute complex scenarios in the pitch dark).
The MarkhamXT Academy is designed to bring that exact mindset and elite technical training straight to firefighters, captains, and first responders across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The Academy bridges the gap between standard procedures and advanced, international rescue methodologies.
Our specialized, hands-on curriculum focuses on:
- Advanced Vehicle Anatomy & Tool Techniques: Learning how to efficiently dismantle modern vehicles using the exact state-of-the-art Amkus hydraulics and hand tools used on the world stage.
- Complex Entrapment Scenarios: Navigating chaotic, multi-vehicle, or displaced-dash situations safely and quickly.
- Rapid Extrication & Patient Packaging: Streamlining the critical transition from structural stabilization to integrated patient removal under tight, competition-level timelines.
- Elite Scene Management: Incident command strategies that eliminate "tool time," maximize team communication, and optimize scene safety.
Serving and Empowering the Next Generation
Our team's journey from beginners to 16th in the world was entirely fueled by a culture of support, continuous learning, and community. The top teams in the world invested their time in us when we were just starting out; now, the MarkhamXT Academy is our way of investing back into the entire Canadian fire service.
Whether you are looking to refine your personal tool handling or want to bring advanced extrication methodologies back to your own fire hall, the Academy provides the realistic, high-pressure environment needed to elevate your skills.
Join Us on the Staging Floor
Ready to sharpen your extrication skills and train on the best equipment in the industry? Space on the training ground is limited.
To see the full course breakdown, view upcoming schedules, or secure a spot for your crew, visit the official MarkhamXT Academy Page.
Let's elevate our training, push our limits, and keep our communities safe.
