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.

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.

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.

Michael has been a professional fundraiser for more than 12 years working with organizations such as HeroWork, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Pacific Wild, River Network, Soap for Hope Canada and Habitat Acquisition Trust.

Michael is American Canadian, attended the Universities of Idaho and New Mexico and is an award-winning fiction novelist. His fifth novel to be published will be released in the Summer of 2022.

SHARLENE SMITH | Board Chair

Sharlene Smith has extensive governance experience; having held leadership positions with national, provincial and local organizations.

In addition to joining the board of HeroWork — an organization she’s excited to be a part of — she has served on the boards of ten public and civil society organizations, and been the lead director on five of them. Her governance experience is in healthcare, transportation, parks and recreation, tourism, victim services and policing, as well as her own professional association – the Canadian Public Relations Society, where she is currently the chair of their national governance committee.

Sharlene is a graduate of Leadership Victoria, and actively participates in professional development on governance as part of her membership in the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Professionally, she is a communication management consultant, and a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society’s College of Fellows.

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”.

ANNETTE WALL | Director

Annette has a lengthy career in executive leadership. She works with a focus on building strong teams, establishing collaborative leadership strategies and fostering strategic relationships.  

Annette currently holds a position of Associate Faculty in the School of Leadership Studies at Royal Roads University.  She holds a masters degree in leadership and professional designations in the human resources field. 

I value the collaborative and expert contributions of our Board of Directors and the HeroWork staff and the dedication of our volunteers, sponsors and charity partners to improving the lives of all people in our communities.  

JASON DEMMY | Director

MIKE MARASCO | Director

Mr. Marasco (Mike) is a retired executive, and currently sits on two private sector and one non-profit board. He is committed to giving back and enjoys the community and charity work he is involved in.

Mike was CEO of Plenary Concessions, the company that holds all Plenary project-specific companies in North America. Plenary Group is a market leader in the North American Public Private Partnerships market, having closed more $17 billion in 33 projects since 2005 when the business started.

Prior to joining Plenary Group, Mike was one of the founders and Vice-President, Partnerships Development & Delivery for Partnerships BC, where during his tenure, Partnerships BC closed more than $4.7 billion in eleven infrastructure projects in health, transportation, advanced education and resource sectors.

With his 26 years of public sector experience and his 12+ years in the private sector, Mike has a solid understanding of the value proposition that the private sector brings to the development of public infrastructure in North America.

Mike is a CPA, CMA.

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.

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.