Homelessness is a social issue that Mr. Hearn has engaged in tireless and ongoing efforts to address. His passion to find solutions for this social issue was ignited after Mr. Hearn moved Imperial Oil to Calgary in the summer of 2005, when he and his wife Susan were shocked by the extent and depth of visible homelessness in the city. They took immediate action through meeting with community leaders to discuss the steps that needed to be taken, and in just two years’ time Mr. Hearn was asked to serve on a select committee charged with developing a strategic plan to end homelessness in Calgary, and chaired the subcommittee focused on developing housing solutions.

Continuing his work to end homelessness, Mr. Hearn joined Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) as a member of the Board in 2009, where he served as Board Chair from 2009 – 2012.

Not long after his departure from CHF’s Board, the RESOLVE Campaign was conceived to address the urgent need for affordable housing with support services in Calgary in order to provide the safety and stability of a home to many of Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens. Mr. Hearn served on RESOLVE’s Cabinet from the campaign’s inception until its sunset in 2018, and he led the fundraising efforts through his own example and personally committed a Leadership Level gift to the campaign. Mr. Hearn believes in the importance of giving people a hand up, and in many instances, he has been the first to extend his hand to those in need.