We are very pleased to announce the addition of the Honorable Kent Hehr as a keynote speaker at the upcoming September 2022 Saruk Centre Conference. Kent has led a life of service and community leadership and will bring his extensive experience and perspective to share with us on Friday September 23rd at the conference.
Kent Hehr was born and raised in Calgary and in October 1991 was a victim of a random act of violence, a drive-by shooting. The injury left him a C5 quadriplegic not being able to use or feel 95% of his body. After rehab, he returned to school at the University of Calgary where he earned a Bachelor of Law in 2001. Kent practiced law at the prestigious national firm, Fraser Milner Casgrain (now Dentons), and continued being a community leader, working with the United Way and heading the Alberta branch of the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Kent was elected in 2008 to represent Calgary-Buffalo in the Alberta Legislature where he served two terms and in 2015 he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre. Kent served as Minister of Veterans Affairs & Associate Minister of National Defence from 2015-2017 and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities from 2017-2018. In 2020, Kent started HSC & Associates, a full-service public relations and policy advocacy firm. Currently, Kent also serves as the VP of Strategic Partnerships & Growth for Fueling Brains, a company that focuses on executive function and whole-brain development in children aged 0-6 years. Ever passionate about the well-being of his fellow citizens, Kent continues to have a strong connection to organizations that help children and families build their lives. Currently, he also serves on the Board of Directors of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Alberta and the Alberta Abilities Network.
