About H.E.R.O. Society
Here at HERO Society, we see the value in everyone. We want to be a catalyst for positive change, and since our beginnings in 2022, we’ve been driven by the same ideas we initially founded our Non-Profit Organization upon: support, empowerment and progress.
Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. HERO Society emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words.
Philosophy
At H.E.R.O. Society, we take pride in being problem solvers who are not afraid to take risks. We believe that with boldness, creativity and heart, there is nothing we can’t accomplish. But above all, our strength lies in teamwork. Each and every one of us has the capability to contribute no matter their experience or background. With this strength behind us, just imagine what we can achieve together.
"Be the change you want to see in the world"
Our Team
Steve Krsnik
With the help of Terry and Brad Malchuk, Steve cofounded HERO Society based on the needs that they saw as the war in Ukraine intensified. From early in the war, Steve was involved in a variety of ways helping the fight against the invading forces and dealing with the devastation left in its wake. We quickly established a team that provided logistics to communities that were cut off from the rest of the country, as well as ensuring HERO Society would be well-positioned within Ukraine to accomplish its mandate.
Steve has worked inside conflict zones and areas that have experienced natural disasters across the globe, including an 11-year military career, volunteering in Iraq and Syria, as well as disaster response in areas hit by hurricanes and flooding.
Steve works hard to balance his family, work, and managing role of Executive Director of HERO Society.
Terry Malchuk
Terry is a cofounder of HERO Society. He spent nine years in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Following his career in the military, Terry volunteered in various veterans organizations, including Boots on the Ground, assisting homeless veterans. Terry also was a facilitator for O.S.I.S.S. (Operational Stress Injury Social Support) for five years.
In November 2022, he was recognized by the Canadian Government having received the Veterans Ombudsmen Commendation Award for his efforts assisting veterans with PTSD.
Terry spent four months in Ukraine, arriving in late April, 2022. He helped organize almost 70 aid missions during his time there, as well as develop a wide network of likeminded collaborators throughout Ukraine. Since returning to Canada, Terry has focused on generating donations and dealing with the logistics of preparing and loading shipping containers filled with medical supplies destined for Ukraine.
Tamara Moldon
Tamara is originally from Dnipro, Ukraine, but currently resides in Vancouver, BC with her husband and three children. She currently works as an Infection Control Practitioner within Corrections Health Services.
With previous experience as an operating-room nurse, Tamara has developed a keen eye for sourcing and distributing medical equipment as part of her volunteer work, for which she is passionate. She provides a quintessential role with HERO Society, notably with regard to sourcing medical supplies in Canada and ensuring proper allocation within Ukraine.
Rob McTavish
Rob became involved in humanitarian support for Ukraine when he and his family committed to taking in a family from Zaporozhzhia early in the conflict. He met Tamara who suggested his former military experience would be a useful asset in ensuring some of our more high-value, more compact supplies get to their destination in Ukraine.
Rob proceeded to then bring multiple overweight suitcases with him on two different trips, having to haul them on and off multiple train journeys. On Rob's first trip, he distributed $600,000 of equipment directly to various hospitals all the while developing relationships with surgeons and staff.
On Rob's second trip over in January, 2023, he accompanied a whopping $2 million of supplies, which he helped procure. Once again, he visited numerous hospitals Dnipro and Marhanets, where further deliveries were made. He also visited hospitals in Kharkiv and Kramatorsk.
Justin Carter
Justin's background is in the social sciences, energy management, and renewable energy. Justin went over to Ukraine at the same time as Terry in early 2022 and worked on humanitarian logistics with HERO Society and with a German NGO, The Drum.
During his time in Ukraine, Justin embedded himself into a network of effective, likeminded volunteers, including the folks at HERO Society. They collaborated on missions together, while identifying the needs and problems grappling disaffected communities and medical facilities in the east. Last summer, Justin launched a campaign to get potable drinking water filtration units to the front lines through a grassroots fundraising effort. Water filtration units were shipped from Canada to Ukraine and distributed to civilian and military end users.
Justin and Terry are heading back to Ukraine in late spring, 2023. They will continue HERO Society's on-the-ground work in Ukraine, as well look to expand programs to remote pawer generation and clean drinking water.