Paul Hurst, Runner
Paul was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. He joined the View Royal Fire Department at the age of 16 following in his fathers footsteps who was a volunteer Captain on the department. Just after finishing High School at Spectrum, Paul enlisted in the Canadian Air Force, and prior to his departure to basic training, was hired full time at View Royal as a career Firefighter.
Early in his career, Paul was also an Auxiliary Constable with the Westshore RCMP and a part-time paramedic with the BC Ambulance Service in Sooke BC. Having completed 7 years with each organizations, he finally settled down to a career in firefighting.
Paul has embraced the Wounded Warriors and their mission. Every couple years, Paul and a close group of friends travel to the battlefields of Europe to retrace the steps of his family, and also pay their respects to the thousands of Canadians who gave their lives so selflessly in the name of freedom. Recognizing the importance of keeping their stories alive so others can learn about the sacrifices made by these incredible generations. With 4 generations of the Hurst family having served and currently serving in Canadas Military, Paul’s goal is to ensure his daughter, currently at Royal Military College and his colleagues have the resources available and need never suffer in silence the isolation of post-traumatic stress.
Paul is a 37 year veteran of the Fire Service, currently serving as View Royals Fire Chief for the past 16 years. Spending his entire career in the community he was raised in, he is no stranger to the stressors and trauma associated with his career choice. His goal is to remove the stigma surrounding PTSD and support those who have spent a life time helping others.
