Janet Townsend, MSW
Founder of Hearts & Hands Foundation

Lyle Bradley is a retired pharmacist who was born and educated in Saskatchewan. He spent 30 years as a co-owner and operator of a pharmacy chain. His work in the healthcare field alerted him to the needs of the less fortunate. Lyle and his wife Elaine retired to Canmore in 2000. He is a Rotarian and a believer in the Rotary motto of Service Above Self. A trip to Guatemala with Hearts and Hands in 2005 convinced him to serve on the Board.

Joan Lawton is the administrative assistant to Janet Townsend. Joan comes from a medical background and has been involved volunteering in many fields while raising her five children. After her first trip to Guatemala, Joan was inspired to continue the work of Hearts & Hands with the Mayan people knowing in some small way not only were their lives being changed but hers as well.

Doug Jones is a retired sales and marketing executive from Ford of Canada. He was born and educated in Ontario and moved to Canmore with his wife Lynn in 2000. To determine their interest, adaptability and contributions in ‘voluntourism’, together with others from the Calgary area, they helped re-build and expand a church in the poor, inner city area of Santiago, Chile in 2002. Doug is a Rotarian and a believer in the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’ and has assisted in fund-raising for recent Hearts & Hands projects.

Margaret Larsen has lived in the Edmonton area for almost 40 yrs. with husband John, raised 2 children, and is a grandmother to soon-to-be 3 times. She was  a stay-at-home mother, always very active in school and community groups and held the position of President of The Solar Energy Society of Edmonton for 2 years in the early 90's. Currently she's very involved with a group called "The Avenue Initiative" , a community revitalization project in the Edmonton's inner city neighborhood in which she lives.  She has travelled quite extensively with her husband and first went to Guatemala in  the winter of 2005. It has always been a dream to work as a volunteer in another country and after reading about Hearts and Hands in the Edmonton Journal she took her first trip with us in January, 2006. It was so fulfilling on many levels for her and she came home feeling she had helped others and been rewarded abundantly herself.

Hal Rempel has participated in two Guatemalan stove projects, September 2005 and January 2007. On first hearing of Hearts & Hands he knew that it provided a humanitarian adventure that delivered a heartfelt expression of caring in a very practical form. Prior to retiring in 1997, Hal was an instructor/administrator at Bow Valley College in Calgary, providing programs and instruction in adult literacy and more recently in computer literacy and applications. In the past 10 years of semi-retirement he has pursued various interests related to residential housing, including investment, management, warranty-service, renovation and building. He believes a safe, comfortable home is every parent’s dream and goal regardless of location. Participating with other caring volunteers in installing stoves in the Mayan villages of Guatemala has provided a cleaner and safer home environment, and reduced the arduous task of gathering wood for the cooking fire. “Sharing the joy and gratitude of the Mayan mothers as we install a safe and proper stove provides me with an immeasurable blessing.”

Ross Sargent is a retired school teacher after having spent 32 years teaching in the Bow Valley. He became interested in helping the peoples of Latin America after an initial trip to Santiago, Chile where he took part in a team effort to rebuild a church in an inner-city neighbourhood. He was very taken by the people and their generous nature in spite of their lack of material wealth. He has returned numerous times to help with other projects. The opportunity to help in Guatemala with Hearts & Hands further strengthened his desire to assist others and particularly made him aware of the needs of the Mayan people.

Pamela Farron had 30 years of human resource and management experience in the oil industry before retiring in 2007. During her work life she volunteered at various schools in Edmonton, mentoring students. She also spent 15 years volunteering with Skills Canada Alberta, promoting careers in trades and technologies to Canadian youth. Pam and her husband Bob now live in Canmore and enjoy spending time with family and friends. They went to Guatemala in 2007 and were truly moved by the people they met and the work that was done. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and they are now committed to making a difference in this special part of the world.

Alison Pennie McGoey (information to come)