Our Staff

Miles Ernst

Miles is the owner and general manager of Paragon Funeral and Cremation Services. He hails from Rosetown, Saskatchewan and that is also where he completed his funeral director apprenticeship. In 1998, he moved west to join the staff at Chapel of Memories, in Port Alberni, BC and there he met his wife, Louise.

His desire was to someday own a funeral home, so that he could offer services at a more affordable cost to grieving families, while continuing to offer quality service and dignified options. The opportunity presented itself in 2001, to move to Regina, SK and manage Paragon Funeral Services. Just two years later, in October 2003, Miles and Louise became the new owners. 

Miles has twenty-five years of experience in the funeral profession and holds funeral director, embalmer, crematorium technician and pre-need sales licenses. He is passionate about helping families in the midst of their grief and assisting them through some of their hardest moments.

Four active boys, call him 'dad' and as the years go on, he has devoted countless hours coaching their various teams, as well as getting them to and from these activities & sports. In his limited "spare time" Miles enjoys riding his Harley, watching NFL games, golfing and of course, spending time with family.

Louise Ernst

Louise is more of a behind the scenes person but occasionally you will see her in the office, at a service, or wherever needed. Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, this island girl has had 18 years to become accustomed to prairie life! She joined the funeral service profession in 1996, after an apprenticeship was offered to her at Chapel of Memories, in Port Alberni, BC and holds both funeral director and embalming licences. She graduated from the Western School of Funeral Service, British Columbia in 1998 and was the recipient of the ‘Arbor Ethics Award’.

Prior to this, she had been working as a nurse's aide in extended care and had plans to pursue a nursing career. A pivotal point in deciding to go a different path, was when her 13 yr old neighbour girl, someone she used to babysit, passed away suddenly. The funeral was so meaningful and really represented who this child was, thus starting the thought process about funeral directors and why and how they are able to do this profession. Louise’s caring and compassionate nature is an asset to funeral service. 

In her spare time, Louise enjoys photography,  DIY projects, gardening, reading, backyard BBQ's, camping & traveling. She is a proud momma to four boys, ages 18, 16, 14 & 12.

Lawrence Ward

Lawrence is proud to be part of our team, guiding families through one of the most personal times in life. He worked with Paragon as a part-time Funeral Assistant, and upon retiring from the Co-op in 2017, Lawrence went on to pursue his Funeral Directors Certificate from Saskatchewan Polytechnic. He holds funeral director and crematorium technician licenses. Lawrence is active in the community as a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the Regina Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Amara Geick

Amara was born and raised in British Columbia, moving to Saskatchewan in 2005.   She obtained her Funeral Director’s license in 2019 and is presently working to obtain her Embalmers license.  Amara is passionate about providing families with creative and personalized options for celebrating the lives of loved ones. Experiencing the loss of a special family member at a very young age has given her a unique perspective on helping children through this process. Outside of the funeral home, Amara is a busy mom of two boys and also a “roadie” for the Regina School of Rock House Band, where her son Marshall is their lead drummer.

Richard Knibbs

Richard is a crematorium technician with Paragon Funeral and Cremation Services, after retiring from a 35 year career with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Richard was born and raised in Regina, SK. He enjoys glamping with his wife, family, and friends near Katepwa Beach. He has extensive interests such as: hunting, fishing, woodworking, barbecuing, baking, and blacksmithing to name a few. Richards dedication to hard work and integrity make him an asset to the Paragon team.

Doug Lett

Doug is our crematorium technician and has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for over thirty years. He’s been part of the Paragon team for numerous years, but took a brief break to work outdoors at the cemetery. We are glad that he’s back! Doug was born and raised in Regina, SK and is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, ice fishing and riding his motorcycle. His loyal, dependable and caring personality make him a great asset to our team!

Tinika Froehlich

Tinika is our Pre-Need Funeral Consultant with Canada Purple Shield. Prior to this, she was employed at Paragon and holds both funeral director and embalmers licenses, from Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Through her own personal experiences, Tinika has gained a strong sense of empathy for families who are facing the challenges of losing a loved one.

Born and raised in Regina, SK, Tinika is a busy mother of three who, in her leisure time, enjoys gardening, biking and outdoor adventures with her family, as well as travelling with her husband when time permits. Tinika takes pride in serving the people of our community with high standards, dignity and respect.

Marty Wekerle

Marty has been a pillar at Paragon for about 15 years now. We persuaded him out of retirement, after meeting him and recognizing that he would be a valuable team member. His ‘work family’ appreciates his willingness to always help out wherever needed, his endless energy and his wisdom. Many in attendance, appreciate seeing a familiar face on a service because Marty seems to know everyone!
 
Marty and his wife, Adina, have been married for 65 years, are members at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and have enjoyed many camping trips to Plentywood, Montana over the years. Marty’s previous work experiences include 41 years employed at Brink’s Canada Ltd., farming and small engine repair, to name a few.