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Who We Are
Tip of Spear Academy is based in Edmonton, Alberta, and has been operating and expanding our services since 2011. We partner with leading subject matter experts to develop and deliver top-tier accredited training for security and investigation personnel, military, and enforcement officers, as well as personal safety, self-defence, and communication training for groups, organizations, and individuals.
We have grown to be one of the largest professional protection training centres in Alberta, and it is our privilege to serve our province and Western Canada, supporting and empowering our communities. In 2026, we celebrate 15 years of service and over 25 000 trained!
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We have a long-standing A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
The 'Tip of Spear' Name
"Tip of the Spear" is a term that military tacticians use to reference the first combat force that pierces the enemy's frontlines.
The name Tip of Spear reflects our role as a leader in professional safety and training. We are committed to innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement across the industries we serve.
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Through evidence-based education and practical instruction, we support career development, organizational readiness, and safer communities. Our goal is to set a clear standard for training that is accessible, future-facing, and sets the standard for our industry.
meet ida agronin
Co-founder and President | Tip of Spear Inc.
Ida Agronin is a co-founder and currently president of Tip of Spear Inc., which has been operating since 2011.
Ida's business experience began long before Tip of Spear. Raised in an entrepreneurial family in Edmonton, she grew up around a range of family businesses, including an art gallery, a restaurant, and an Army surplus store on Jasper Avenue.
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At 17, she began managing her family's West Edmonton Mall retail location while later completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree at Grant MacEwan and University of Alberta. In that environment, she learned the realities of running a business from the ground up: customer service, staffing, ordering, importing, merchandising, inventory control, lease negotiations, logistics, and long-term planning.​ Her retail experience also gave her an early understanding of how quickly industries can change. As technology and the internet began reshaping business operations, Ida introduced new systems to streamline and modernize.
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This hands-on background continues to shape her leadership at Tip of Spear. Ida believes meaningful growth requires the ability to continually evolve, adapt, and remain open to new ideas, perspectives, and collaborations. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration over hierarchy, innovation over stagnation, and long-term impact over ego. She is passionate about creating an organization that thrives through humility, modern thinking, and the collective strength of exceptional people working together.
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Ida is particularly enthusiastic about initiatives that expand access to training and personal safety education for underserved communities, helping create safe and welcoming environments where individuals can grow, heal, and discover their own strength without judgment. She believes strongly in building bridges between sectors, encouraging collaboration and mutual understanding between security professionals, peace officers, enforcement personnel, and the broader public safety community.
Our Training Partners
Control Concepts Canada
Control Concepts Canada specializes in the development and delivery of advanced, evidence-based training for security, law-enforcement officers, military personnel, and community organizations.
​Their team brings decades of experience not only in use-of-force and control tactics, but also in de-escalation, trauma-informed practice, anti-bullying education, martial arts and self-defence, and more. Their balanced approach emphasizes judgement and human factors, recognizing that safety is often as much about awareness and decision-making as physical skill.
At Tip of Spear, we are proud to partner with Control Concepts Canada to provide training that serves both enforcement professionals and our communities. Together, we deliver practical, defensible instruction designed to build confidence, reduce harm, and support safer interactions in the workplace and everyday life.
CANADIAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
The Canadian College of Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) has been providing training, education, consultation & medical personnel for local and international clients since 1988.
They are an independent and private provider of First Aid & CPR training with approval from Alberta Occupational Health & Safety. They are also proud to provide numerous advanced training programs through their college.​​
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Tip of Spear is proud to partner with CCEMS to deliver specialized first aid training to groups and organizations across our province. Through our partnership we offer Tactical First Aid (Narcan administration and 'Stop the Bleed') as well as Intermediate First Aid, including Healthcare CPR and Narcan administration.​
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instructional team
SEAN CARTER
FOUNDER | CONTROL CONCEPTS CANADA
TIP OF SPEAR | HEAD USE OF FORCE INSTRUCTOR
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Sean Carter is the founder of Control Concepts Canada, and we are honored to have him as Tip of Spear's Head Instructor. Sean brings decades of expertise in use of force training and curriculum design for police, peace officers, security and military professionals.
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Experience Highlights
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38+ years in training and development with the Government of Alberta
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Former Inspector of Law Enforcement Training
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Led design for the Traffic Sheriffs Program, Investigator Program, and Community and Correctional Peace Officer Curriculum
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Credentials​
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Certified Instructor Trainer with Human Factor Research Group - PPCT, Winning Mind Training, and International Instructor for Martial Blade Concepts.
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5th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate
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Sean leads our Peace Officer, tactical, and safety and communications programming. His approach emphasizes responsible and lawful use of force, effective self-defence, and the development of practical, communication and de-escalation skills. Through his instruction, Sean consistently demonstrates a commitment to his students' professional development, encouraging and modeling sound judgement, accountability, and leadership.
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Sean is deeply passionate about helping students succeed long-term. He and his team also lead women’s self-defence and children’s anti-bullying programs, and are passionate about ensuring every participant gains the confidence, knowledge, and practical skills to thrive.
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Learn more about Sean here
AARON MCBRIDE
SUBJECT MATTER CONTENT CREATOR, FACILITATOR & INSTRUCTOR
CONTROL CONCEPTS CANADA
TIP OF SPEAR | USE OF FORCE AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT​
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Aaron McBride is an subject matter expert with extensive experience instructing control tactics, officer safety, and professional skills development. He brings a unique multidisciplinary foundation, which enables him to deliver training that is not only physically effective but also grounded in psychological awareness and communication strategy.
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Experience Highlights
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​Use of Force and PPCT Instructor with Alberta Correctional Services since 2004
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Revisions to the Young Offender Branch Instructor Development Program and the Staff Safety Awareness Program for civilian staff
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Contributions to the creation of the Correctional Officer Recertification Program for the Adult Centre Operations Branch (later adapted for the Young Offender Branch)
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​Certifications
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Certified Instructor with Human Factor Research Group - PPCT​
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Martial Blade Concepts (edged weapon defence)
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Tactical Communications, De-escalation and Conflict Resolution
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Addictions Counseling, and Suicide Intervention
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One of Aaron's many strengths as an instructor lies in his ability to engage learners. He is recognized for his approachable teaching style, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to break down complex material into practical, applicable lessons. His invaluable expertise in tactics, communications, and de-escalation sets him apart, and we are proud to have Aaron as part of our instructional team.
Experience Highlights
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​Training & Development Specialist at Tip of Spear since 2017
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​Five years as Training & Development Specialist at Paladin Security Inc.​
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Six years in management with TELUS – Acted as TELUS’ single point of contact for the City of Edmonton Spousal Violence Program and the RCMP Witness Protection Program
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​Certifications​​​
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Master Instructor III, NAIT
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Achieve Training Center, Crisis Prevention Institute, Diversity and Culture – Strategies for Working With Differences – Train the Trainer Certification Workshop
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Edmonton Police Services- Cooperative Policing Training
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Non-Violent Crisis Intervention – Instructor Certification Program, Crisis Prevention Institute
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Verbal Judo Canada- Verbal Judo Level 1 Instructor
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St. John Ambulance- First Aid and CPR Instructor
KATHIE BROOKS​
TIP OF SPEAR | SECURITY TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
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Kathie Brooks brings both a strong instructional background and industry expertise to Tip of Spear's security training programs. With extensive experience and certifications relating to adult learning, communication, training and development, and the security field, Kathie is an invaluable part of the Tip of Spear instructional team.
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​Highlights of Qualifications​​
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Identify and utilize best-in-class facilitation methods and techniques to coach associates to meet and exceed business performance standards
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Collaborate with all levels of leadership to ensure engagement of learners, identification of performance gaps, and implementation of improvement strategies
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Adhere to the principles of adult learning while designing, developing and delivering curriculum to support training objectives that introduce and enhance required knowledge for a variety of business portfolios
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Manage all logistics pertaining to the delivery of training programs, including pre- and post-training documentation, and ensure accurate training records
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Effectively communicate and influence internal and external customers as opportunities arise
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Earn and maintain the trust of others by demonstrating a harmony of my values and beliefs with my actions and consideration for others
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​Kathie demonstrates a holistic approach to training and her learning influence does not end in the classroom. She continues to provide coaching and mentoring for many students as part of their career pathing and personal development; encouraging them to learn and grow, and inspiring them to be all they can be.
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GREG CLARKES​
FOUNDER | CANADIAN COLLEGE OF EMS | ACP, NRP, MICP
TIP OF SPEAR | FIRST AID & EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING
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Greg Clarkes is an Advanced Care Paramedic with over 30 years of experience in emergency medical services, medical education, and emergency response training. Registered in Alberta and the United States, Greg has worked in clinical, industrial, instructional, and emergency care environments, and has spoken and taught internationally throughout his career.
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He founded the Canadian First Aid School in 1988 and the Canadian College of EMS in 1996, where he continues to serve as education coordinator. His instructional background includes basic and advanced life support, tactical combat casualty care, emergency care in dentistry, and advanced emergency medical programs.
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Greg has also contributed internationally though his work with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, including involvement with Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Advanced Medical Life Support, and Emergency Pediatric Care programs. His broader public safety background includes experience in hospital security, private investigation, the naval reserve, and as a Peace Officer with Edmonton Transit.
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Greg and the Canadian College of EMS team bring a depth of experience that goes far beyond basic first aid instruction. Their programs can help students progress toward Advanced First Aid and may open doors to opportunities in fire/rescue, EMS, and security placements. Tip of Spear is proud to partner with them to offer first aid training held to such a high standard.​​​​​
BILL GIRARD
FIREARMS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
TIP OF SPEAR | CANADIAN FIREARMS SAFTEY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
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Bill Girard brings years of firearms, retail, range and instructional experience to Tip of Spear's Canadian Firearms Safety Training. His lifelong interest in firearms led him into the industry in 2008, where he began working in the hunting department at Wholesale Sports. He later managed the retail department at Phoenix Indoor Range and Gun Shop and continues to work in the firearms field today.
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After being accepted as an instructor for the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, Bill began delivering the program through Tip of Spear. He brings practical industry knowledge, a strong understanding of safe firearms handling, and a clear passion for the material.
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Bill is frequently praised by students for his patience, knowledge, humour, and has a special talent for making the course material approachable and engaging. His goal is to help students leave the classroom with the confidence, understanding, and respect for safety needed to continue developing responsible firearms practices.
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LEAH
HEAD KRAV MAGA INSTRUCTOR & PROGRAM FACILITATOR
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Leah began training at Tip of Spear in 2017 as part of her own journey toward confidence, strength, and personal empowerment. Her experience both as a student and educator gives her a deep understanding of what it means to walk into training with uncertainty and past challenges, and to leave feeling stronger, more confident, and empowered.
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IKMF Certifications:
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Level G3
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Civilian Instructor Course (CIC)
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Women's Instructor Course (WIC)
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Kids Instructor Course (KIC)
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Leah wrapped up her first session as Tip of Spear's Krav Maga Head Instructor and Program Facilitator in December 2025. Since then, she has continued to strengthen the program through a student-centered approach, adapting instruction to meet different learning needs and levels while creating an environment where student feel safe, respected, and supported.
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She is our resident expert in working with LGBTQ+ communities, and has developed our "Empowered" Seminar, which we offer to local groups and corporate organizations.
Learn more about Leah's journey and the Empowered Self-Defence program here.