HEROWORK leadership team
PAUL LATOUR | Founder & CEO
Paul Latour is the creator of HeroWork.
It began because Paul wanted to help a friend with MS. His initial idea was to bring 20 people together, have a pizza party, and help his friend. Seven weeks later Paul spearheaded a single-day “Radical Renovation” worth $25,000 with a budget of $380.
JASON DEMMY | Chief Operating Officer
Jason Demmy brings years of business experience owning, managing and scaling multiple rental equipment businesses from single store locations to multinational chains. His experience developing businesses provides insight to HeroWork on integrating accounting, IT, and operational systems, increasing efficiencies, as well as helping plan with replicating operations in new markets.
LINDA MORRISON | Operations Manager
Linda has an extensive background in human resource management with the public sector in AB and BC public sector. She is most happy solving problems and managing change and is eager to assist HeroWork in developing and designing processes to streamline work flow and program areas. More important, however, Linda is thrilled to be able to give back to charities in the Greater Victoria area.
ELIZABETH BRENNAN | Executive and Board Assistant
Elizabeth joined the HeroWork team in April, 2022. Prior to that she spent her career working in the not for profit and government sectors. This work involved a focus on supporting local governments to better service their communities. Elizabeth has been an active volunteer on HeroWork Radical Renovation projects since 2018 and takes pride in being part of the transformation of charity buildings across Victoria.
MICHAEL CURNES | Advancement & Communications
Michael has helped more than a dozen charities reach for and achieve their charitable potential. Joining forces with HeroWork in 2021, he looks most forward to helping the organization scale up into new HeroWork Chapters in urban centres across Canada.
PAUL LATOUR | Founder & Ceo
Paul Latour is the creator and CEO of HeroWork.
HeroWork began because Paul wanted to help a friend with MS. His initial idea was to bring 20 people together, have a pizza party, and help his friend. Seven weeks later Paul spearheaded a single-day $25,000 renovation with a budget of $380.
Without construction experience or money Paul has gone on to create and grow a society that has now completed millions worth of non-profit renovations in Victoria BC, mobilizing hundreds of companies and thousands of volunteers.
Paul’s next goal is to expand the HeroWork program into many urban centres across HeroWork Canada, using an innovation he calls the “Social Impact Corporate Franchise” model. This model uses franchise business systems with the for-profit mechanisms stripped away in order to create bigger social impact.
Paul also has hosted and produced three uplifting TV specials, showcasing the power of community. He has been featured on Global national news as well as the Times Colonist, Douglas Magazine, Canadian Living Magazine, and many more.
JASON DEMMY | Chief Operating Officer
A few of the highlights of his career include:
- IT work integrating over 30 separate newly acquired equipment companies across North America onto a common system.
- Acquiring and growing a local equipment business to multiple locations across B.C. and Alberta.
- Leading the entry of a multinational into Canada growing operations to 22 locations across Western Canada and integrating operational systems for Canada.
- Purchasing, selling, renovating and developing multiple different types of real estate.“I’m really grateful to be a part of the HeroWork team by contributing on the Board as well as assisting with Radical Renovations. HeroWork is a unique platform that gives me an opportunity to help assist a wide variety of worthwhile charities that in turn help many people with different needs. The positive atmosphere created by everyone – staff, board members, volunteers, and partner charities – is really uplifting and makes this group such a genuine pleasure to work with.”
LINDA MORRISON | Operations Manager
Linda has an extensive background in human resource management with the public sector in AB and BC public sector. She is most happy solving problems and managing change and is eager to assist HeroWork in developing and designing processes to streamline work flow and program areas. More important, however, Linda is thrilled to be able to give back to charities in the Greater Victoria area.
Linda holds a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University, an Event Management Extension Certificate from Mount Royal University and a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Camosun College.
Linda was born and raised in Victoria and spent 14 years in Grande Prairie, Alberta. She is happy to be home where she can spend more time with her nieces and nephews.
HeroWork Canada seeks board members
If you are looking to make a difference in an organization renewing charity infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.See HeroWork Victoria's Staff
HeroWork Victoria is our original chapter and where HeroWork was born, created by founder Paul Latour. Now headed by GM, Trevor Botkin, the Victoria staff continue to make a huge difference on Vancouver Island. Click Here to See VictoriaHEROWORK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sharlene Smith
Greg Baynton
Bill Gyles
Bruce Johnson
Deborah Hunt
Annette Wall
Mike Marasco
Fallon Lindsay
Anna Du Vent
GREG BAYNTON | Past Chair
Greg spent his working life in the construction industry, most of it as a contractor with operations in numerous locations, and always headquartered in Victoria. He was the recipient of personal awards for his leadership and his firm was the recipient of project awards for its innovation and achievements.
Greg was always very active in industry associations that promoted best practices and excellence. He was often an industry liaison to government and construction related authorities on a variety of topics that included design, building science, standards and practices. When he decided to leave the for-profit sector in 2004 his company operated in three locations in BC.
In 2006 Greg became CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association. One of Greg’s key achievements during his tenure with the Construction Association was the amalgamation of four island construction associations. The amalgamation proved to be timely and critical to solidifying the industry’s voice as a key stakeholder in the island’s economy, and as the industry transitioned from the 2008 recession to a sustained period of unprecedented growth on and off the island.
In 2015 VICA and HeroWork initiated a collaborative dialogue and in 2016 the VICA U40 sponsored the Camp Pringle Radical Renovation Project. The partnership cultivated between VICA and HeroWork continues to this day.
Greg retired as CEO of VICA in early 2017 and was recruited to the HeroWork board that year. Greg brings comprehensive construction and board expertise to the HeroWork Board.
Greg also joined the Victoria Civic Heritage Trust Board of Directors in 2017.
BILL GYLES | Treasurer
Bill started his career in Winnipeg as a construction cost consultant and attained his designation as a Professional Quantity Surveyor in 1975. Moving to Victoria in 1979 he worked for several General Contractors, then co-founded Kinetic Construction in 1984. He managed this construction company and grew Kinetic from a two-person operation to a mid-sized general contracting and construction management firm with 3 branch offices and 140 employees. Bill is a LEED Accredited Professional, and has participated on many green building projects throughout BC and Alberta.
Bill served on numerous construction industry boards, both local and national, over the past 30 years. He chaired both the British Columbia Construction and the Vancouver Island Construction Associations, and served on several committees. In 2013, Bill was recipient of the Canadian Construction Association Person of the Year Award.
Bill served 5 years on the Board of Governors for Camosun College as well as several other local and provincial advisory boards. Upon his retirement in 2017 Bill was honored to have the annual William Gyles Scholarship in Civil Engineering Technology donated to Camosun College by Kinetic Construction. Bill currently teaches a course at the College of the Desert in Palm Springs in the Learning in Retirement Program.
Bill is excited to help HeroWork thrive and grow. His experience participating on various Boards, as well as his leadership roles in the construction industry will help HeroWork to achieve its mission.
BRUCE JOHNSON | Secretary
Bruce Johnson, P.Eng., Struct.Eng.
With over 39 years as a Structural Engineer, Bruce brings a wealth of leadership and experience from the building construction industry. His career at RJC Engineers included 22 years managing their Victoria office, followed by 4 years leading the 600-person Canada-wide firm as President/ Managing Director. He was elected to RJC’s Board for 14 years, including Chairman for 6 years.
His volunteer experience includes 6 years as a member of the Architectural Conservation Committee and Board of Directors with the Victoria Civic Heritage Trust, including 3 years as President.
“I first learned of HeroWorks through others in RJC’s Victoria office, and was instantly drawn to the concept. I have been so blessed in my life and career, and I want to give back in ways that change lives; HeroWorks can do that. Having volunteered on a few projects, I am honoured to be a member of the HeroWorks Board and look forward to helping lead the organization.”
DEBORAH HUNT | Director
Deborah Hunt is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with over 35 years experience in both the private and public sectors. She has worked for the BC Office of the Auditor General, held senior management positions in the BC Ministry of Health and NS Department of Health, was the Director of Finance for Royal Roads University, and is a partner in Compass Solutions Inc., a management consulting business.
Deborah first became involved with HeroWork when she was on the Board and the Treasurer of the Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society, a charity that prepares and serves a free hot noon meal to 125 people a day, 5 days a week year round. As the Board’s representative, she worked closely with Paul Latour during the planning stages leading up to the Rainbow Kitchen’s 4 week Radical Renovation in the fall of 2016 of the entire inside space plus landscaping of the entire outside space. “The Radical Renovation not only substantially improved the physical infrastructure , it had a huge transformative impact on our guests and volunteers by showing them that the community really cares about them.”
Deborah joined the HeroWork Board as Treasurer in February 2017. ”I was so impressed not only with WHAT HeroWork did for the Rainbow Kitchen, but with HOW it did it by engaging and inspiring an amazing community of HeroWork volunteers and the IMAPCT it had on our entire organization and the people we serve. I wanted to be part of the team that continues to revitalize and transform charities throughout the wider community”.
MIKE MARASCO | Director
Mike is the retired CEO of Plenary Concessions, a division of the Plenary Group. He was previously the Vice President of Hospital Development for the Fraser Health Authority as well as the Vice President of Project Development & Delivery for Partnerships BC. In addition to serving on HeroWork’s Board of Directors, Mike also serves as a board director for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, San Francisco-based Glydways and previously served as a director for the Canadian Council of Public Private Partnerships.
In his spare time, MIke is also the owner of three Papa Murphy’s Take N’ Bake Pizza locations in Arizona.
FALLON LINDSAY | Director
Fallon joined Kinetic as the Director of Finance in 2019. She is responsible for overseeing all finance, accounting, talent and development and IT functions for the business.
She is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over ten years of experience across diverse industries including construction, property management, commercial real estate and health services retail.
Fallon graduating from the University of Victoria with a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Business in 2010. Carrying on with her education she completed her Chartered Professional Designation (CPA, CGA) in 2015 and The Certified Human Resource Professional (CPHR) designation in 2016.
Fallon is actively involved in the volunteer community and has served on the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary board as Treasurer (2018 – 2020) and currently holds the Chair position. She also mentors CPA candidates through the CPA BC mentorship program.
Anna Du Vent | Director
Anna Du Vent has over 15 years of professional experience in the not-for-profit sector in Canadian and international organizations. She currently is a senior Monitoring and Evaluation staff member at Oxfam Canada, where she is committed to applying a feminist approach to assessing and learning from projects, including those focused on ending violence against women and girls, women’s economic empowerment, and legal and policy reform. Anna also has experience in the legal sector, having graduated cum laude from the University of Ottawa common law program in 2014. She has academic and professional experience with not-for-profit, employment and tax law as well as community development law, focussing on strategic investment and social enterprise. She completed her articling year at one of Canada’s leading law firms in the area of charities and not-for-profit law.
She values a strong charitable sector and the role of volunteerism in contributing towards ensuring strong communities. Her volunteer experience includes sitting on multiple not-for-profit boards including reviewing organizational bylaws and ensure compliance with the relevance legal standards.
Danielle Bouchard | Director
Danielle is a commercial litigator with a particular focus in construction and insurance law.
Danielle obtained her J.D. from the University of Alberta. During this time, she was the recipient of the Catherine Miller Community Service Award for her volunteer work with with a number of organizations, including Student Legal Services, Pro Bono Student Services, and the Elizabeth Fry Society, and served as a Committee Member on the University of Alberta Campus Law Review Committee.
Prior to attending law school, Danielle obtained her Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of Alberta and also obtained certificates in Peace and Post Conflict Resolution and Globalization and Governance. During her undergraduate degree, Danielle represented the University of Alberta at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York, N.Y., attended the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars and completed an internship with a non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C.