Across Canada, Ian Hill is known as a builder of people and communities. For decades, Ian has worked in more than 700 Canadian communities—urban and rural, northern and prairie—supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening local leadership, and rallying volunteers to make lasting change.

As the founder and volunteer CEO of Let Them Be Kids, he launched a grassroots movement that empowered over 200 towns to build playgrounds, skate parks, and gathering spaces. The program was recognized by the World Leisure Congress as one of the most innovative social initiatives in the world.

A Guinness World Record breaker for the longest public speech, Ian spoke for 51 hours straight to raise money for youth in crisis. At 57, he attempted to become the oldest man to play college football—an effort designed to spotlight the alarming suicide rate among middle-aged men in rural farming communities.

His contributions have been recognized nationally and internationally: Humanitarian of the Year by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, NAACP Youth Advocate of the Year, Alder Business Leader of the Year, and a nomination by the Prime Minister of Canada for Social Innovator of the Year.

Today, Ian leads You Make THE Difference across Canada—strengthening ag societies, revitalizing rural communities, and ensuring that ag societies and fairs remain a cornerstone of Canadian life for generations to come.