Kenneth Heath – A man at service to his community

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“You helped me get my license back, and I will never forget you.” (Health Paralegal Services Former Client)

Ken was sharing a part of his story with me. As an experienced paralegal, he had seen and heard much in his life. The part of his life that has brought him the most joy is the ability to help doing work that he loves.

The most extraordinary of men have powerful stories, stories that motivate, and inspire change. Upon sight, Kenneth Heath is everything that the Classic Man Series is about. When he steps into a room, you know he is there. Not just because of his freshly pressed shirt, shined shoes and perfectly tailored jacket. There is this effortlessness that you have to respect.

I remember the first time I met him, the look on women’s faces when he walked through the door. Naturally he is an attractive man, but there is an extra measure of respect that a man is given when he takes time to put himself together well. Studies have shown that visual cues are 3-5 times as powerful as audio cues, and with clothing covering 90% of the body, Kenneth recognizes how important a role it plays in how he is perceived by others.

It has to be in Kenneth’s line of work. Paralegal work is intellectually challenging and involves a range of high-level skills. What makes Kenneth so effective at his job is the fact that he is a problem solver, which involves innovative thinking. He has become an expert in traffic law, and has mastered handling legal procedures, and the research that comes with it. His thirst for knowledge serves him well because one of his jobs is to stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends. On behalf of his clients, he interfaces with attorneys, opposing counsel and other legal representatives.

Kenneth spends the majority of his time in the public interest sector helping disadvantaged segments of the GTA (General Toronto Area). As a worker for his community, he interviews his clients, assesses the merit of their case, and prepares clients for depositions and cross-examination at trial. He also works closely with his clients gathering documents and data, and serving as the client’s point of contact throughout their case.

It is a pleasure to present to you, another extraordinary man of power and prestige, Mr Kenneth Heath.

Our meeting was through community work that we do with Emmanuel Life Management Centre. We had both signed on as volunteers for their feed the seniors program. The moment I met him, I knew that there was something unique about this man. He had this eagerness to help others, and his light within was evident.

Upon completing the program, I reached out to Ken, and he happily accepted my request to speak with him about his life’s work.

“I was born in Tottenham England on July 2^nd, 1958,” Kenneth began.  I immigrated to Canada in 1966, and grew up in Montreal. I completed elementary, high school, and college all in Montreal. During my younger years I was considered an athlete, and my one true love was hockey.

 In college I studied Social Science (Psychology, and Sociology), and I also completed one year of university. I started working as a Quality Control Technician at an airplane manufacturing company. It was a great job, but things changed for the company, so in 1980, I decided to leave Montreal and make a move to Edmonton.”

His trip to Edmonton was not random. He had a friend who had moved there and worked at a show company called Gallenkamp Shoes. He was not motivated in his current space, so he went to Edmonton and began working with his friend in retail shoe sales.

“It opened my eyes to my strengths. My strength was communication. I was very good at sales. After Gallenkamp Shoes, I went to the Sony Store for two years. Not long after I ended up at the Brick. This is when my life started. I achieved at the highest level when it came to sales, and in no time, I was promoted to management.”

Kenneth now had a growing family with three children, and a defining moment came when he went back to Montreal for his sister’s graduation in1994. “I missed my family, and being there with them reminded me of that. My children were not connected to their family, so I made a decision that I wanted to move back. It was important to me for my children to be close to their family.

 By November 1994, I was back. I moved to Toronto, and began managing at the Brick. Then I sent for the family in early 1995. This time it felt different. Something in me didn’t feel right. I felt like there was more for me. I knew I had to do something other than sales. I knew what I was capable of, and working for someone else was not allowing me to work at my highest capacity. I had plateaued, so I turned to God and said, “God you guide me.”

“Life is not linear. You have to roll with it. Life is like that.” Kenneth Heath

“I answered an ad one day,” Ken tells me. “I think it was July 1996. A man wanted someone to go to court for him and find clients. The deal was with each client I brought in, I would receive a commission. I began with him in September 1996.

 This is how I transitioned into becoming a paralegal. This was way before all the current regulations and requirements to become a paralegal. By November 1996 I began to do it on my own. I had learned how to meet, and connect with people at the courthouse.”

For some reason, people gravitated to him, and he recognized the power in it.

“That is how it all started for me. Learning the application of law came with time. I sat in court and I learned what I needed to. To this day I say it was the best choice I ever made for myself.”

Ken offered some great advice for entrepreneurs. “Introduce yourself. It is called hand-to-hand conduct. Anyone who is doing a business, you have to be prepared to meet people, be able to step out of your comfort zone.

Entrepreneurs do not have salaries! You have to hustle. Though you have money committed to you, you have to chase the dollars. I have established myself in this business, so now the business comes to me. Plant seeds, hand out business cards, network, and let them germinate.

 I don’t think there is anything more fulfilling than getting paid for your knowledge. It is not what you do, it is what you know.”