Meet Our Team
Sarah Burtenshaw
Sarah Burtenshaw, MEd, BHSc (OT), OT Reg. (ON) is a Registered Occupational Therapist working as a Mental Health Worker for Hamilton’s Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team, a 911 police/mental health response team – a program she has been part of since its inception in 2013.
She developed CIT training in Hamilton in 2006 and has implemented more than thirty courses as well as replicated it in neighbouring police services. Working with Judy Alton, she was the instructor for the provincial CIT training for the OPP for over a decade.
Police officers and other participants who have attended Sarah’s training sessions have reported she is:
Very engaging, excellent presenter
Information presented in a captivating way
Sarah understands crisis from a police officer’s perspective
Judy Alton
Sgt. Judy Alton (Retired) is the former Provincial Vulnerable Person’s Coordinator for the Ontario Provincial Police. Throughout her 30-year career, Judy worked the majority of her time in training. Amongst her many career achievements, Judy introduced Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and coordinated courses throughout the province resulting in more than 1,200 being trained in mental health.
Since retiring, Judy has brought her knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to the community college world and is teaching Police Foundations at Georgian College.