About Us

Born in Toronto, raised in Bowmanville Ontario, James joined UA Local 46 Toronto as a Steamfitter apprentice in 1980. Over the last 25 years he has taken on a number of positions representing workers in the construction industry. As the Business Manager of UA Local 46 2003 – 2012, his focus was primarily the promotion of the membership and the negotiating of the 10 plus collective agreements. The next 10 years he took on the role of Business Manager of the Ontario Pipe Trades Council representing and advocating on behalf of the ten UA Locals and their 25,000 members.

James serves on a number of other Boards and Committees over the years with the most recent being; President of the Ontario Building and Construction Trades Council since 2012, Vice President of the Ontario Construction Secretariat as well as recently being appointed to the Board of Directors of the Workplace Safety Insurance Board – WSIB. He looks forward to working with the H2H Team in Building Pathways to the Trades for transitioning Vets, Reservist, Cadets and Afghan Interpreters.

MGen (Ret’d) Paul Bury OMM CD, joined the Helmets to Hardhats team in 2019 after his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces after 33 years of dedicated service to Canada. Appointed to predominately Class A Reserve force positions, MGen (Ret’d) Bury commanded at all levels, both domestically and when operationally deployed, retiring after his four-year appointment as Chief Reserves and Employer Support within NDHQ.

As a predominantly Class A Reservist, MGen (Ret’d) Bury also held a civilian position with the Department of the Solicitor General, Government of Alberta, retiring as a senior manager in 2013. Due to the support and engagement of the Government of Alberta for the Reservists within it’s employ, MGen (Ret’d) Bury was able to effectively balance both demanding careers, receiving significant periods of military leave from his civilian employer and completing five operational deployments.

MGen (Ret’d) Bury holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Boston University and is a graduate of the Canadian Forces College, Advanced Military Studies Program.

Normand Trépanier was born in St-Tite in Mauricie, QC. He enlisted in the CAF in September 1975 and completed his Basic Military Training at CFB St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu. After his basic Artilleryman training, he embarked on a long and prosperous career as a NCM. During his first 15 years, he was posted to various Artillery Units and Schools in Canada and Germany and held positions such as Gun Detachment member, Gun 2I/C, Instructor in various Gun and Missile systems and Gun Detachment commander in Field Arty as well as Air Defense Arty.

He participated in many Unit, Brigade and NATO Exercises. Normand has participated in Border security during the Montreal Olympic games, part of the team securing the Montreal Penitentiary institutions, and participated to three United Nations Missions. He was promoted Chief Warrant Officer after 15 years of service and for the next 22 years he was involved in many senior positions at the Tactical, Operational and Strategic level, assisting Commanders at several levels leading the Institution. As a Formation level CWO, he assisted other Formation CPO1/CWO in the new Development Period in training and education level, concentrating in the Development Period 4 and 5 for senior Institutional leadership education & training. He was deployed in two internationals missions: Bosnia-Herzegovina and El-Gora Egypt, holding senior level positions. He later became the second Director of the Non Commission Member Professional Development Center at the College Militaire Royal of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Before his retirement in 2012 the Canadian Forces CWO appointed him the new Quality of Life CWO for military members and their families.

Governor General of Canada, her Excellency Michaëlle Jean, appointed Normand Trépanier to the Order of Member Military Merit in 2006.

Dave Giannou was born in Glace Bay, NS but grew up in Corner Brook, NF. He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in June 1982 through the Marine Engineering Technologist Training Program, graduating in 1985 with two diplomas; Mechanical and Marine Engineering Technologist. He served successfully as a marine engineer on ships and submarines for the next 16 years achieving his Engineering Artificer qualification.

In 2000 he was offered and accepted a commission as a Marine Systems Engineering Officer. He worked in a variety of engineering positions including a four-year term overseeing the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)’s unique Victoria class simulators and trainers. In 2010 he was promoted to Lieutenant-commander and posted to Her Majesty's Canadian Ships (HMCS) PRESERVER as the Marine Systems Engineering Officer. On completion of his tour, he was posted to Ottawa as part of the Joint Support Ship (JSS) project under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, to help restore shipyards, rebuild the marine industry and create sustainable jobs in Canada.

Dave returned to Halifax in 2013 to work in the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School as the Engineering and Technology Training Officer, overseeing the academic training of the RCN’s technical trades from apprentice to journeyman level. He worked with the staff and students through various training methods including the introduction of technology enhanced learning techniques to better prepare students for on-the-job training and advancement of their careers. His final posting was as Chief of Staff for Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) Safety and Environment, an organization that provided MARLANT with national and international policy interpretation on over 30 different safety and environmental programs.

Retiring after 36+ years of service, he remained with MARLANT Safety and Environment for another 3 years in the civilian role of Chief of Staff prior to joining the Helmets to Hardhats team in May 2021.

During his military career Dave was introduced to competitive marksmanship, competing in military and civilian matches. As Team Captain, supported by an outstanding tri-service team, he led the MARLANT Combat Shooting Team to the CAF Small Arms Competition in Ottawa several times over a ten-year period, successfully competing against some of the best military marksmen in the CAF.

Darryl G. Cathcart enrolled in the Canadian Army in 1991 as a private soldier, commissioned from the ranks as a senior non-commissioned member, and retired in 2017 as a senior officer. During his operational service, Darryl held command and staff positions in The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, where he deployed to Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. Notable domestic appointments include serving at the Infantry School and as an instructional staff member at the Canadian Army Command and Staff College. He is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, the United States Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, and the Joint Command and Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College, Queen’s University. Darryl holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Western University.

In 2018, Darryl founded Release Point Education to witness the realization of academic excellence by supporting military-connected learners through the provision of specialized, relevant, and credible programming. In addition to being a consultant with Helmets to Hardhats, Release Point Education has been employed by Fanshawe, Georgian, Loyalist, the Nova Scotia Community College, and the University of Windsor to support the inclusion of underrepresented group learners. Darryl has published numerous articles surrounding military-connected students and how this heterogeneous group can have an amplifying effect on the civilian workforce.

Aidan Strickland was born and raised in Waterloo, Ontario to a family with a long legacy in the skilled trades. Aidan moved to Ottawa, Ontario to persue an undergraduate degree in Communication and Media Studies with a Minor in Anthology from Carleton University.

Prior to joining Helmets to Hardhats, Aidan worked in Federal politics. She held positions in multiple Minister’s offices, including, Fisheries and Oceans, Diversity, Inclusion and Youth and most recently Aidan was the press secretary for the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Aidan is currently completing a Certificate Program in Public Relations from the Toronto Metropolitan University.

She is looking forward to bringing her political experience, communication and outreach knowledge to the Helmets to Hardhats team.

Laura Leask was born and raised in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. She is a status member of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation on her father’s side, and her mother is of European descent. Laura relocated to Calgary, Alberta, when she retired from a 20-year career with the Correctional Service of Canada.

Laura’s 20-year career with the Correctional Service of Canada began as a Correctional Officer. During her 15 years in uniform, she worked her way through the Operational ranks in all levels of security. She eventually transferred to the Interventions Department, where she became an Indigenous Correctional Program Officer. Laura facilitated Correctional Programs for Indigenous men alongside her highly respected Sts'ailes Elder.

Laura ended her career in the Correctional Service of Canada as a Project Coordinator for a grassroots project called Work to Give, an Indigenous-focused program developed to address the over-representation of Indigenous people in our prison systems. Work to Give provided diverse, individual, and collective ways for Indigenous Offenders to heal and give back to the community.

Since her retirement, Laura has become a Gladue Report Writer for Indigenous men and women, where she identified Intergenerational Impacts they have experienced in their lives. Through the reporting process, Laura developed culturally appropriate Interventions and Restorative Justice options to address their personal barriers.

Laura is working on her Associate Degree in Occupational Health and Safety with the University of Fredericton. She looks forward to sharing her experience, thoughts, and ideas while working with Indigenous Veterans in her new role as the Indigenous Outreach Specialist for Helmets to Hardhats.