HGTV Canada
HGTV is a Canadian English-language Category A cable and satellite specialty channel owned as a joint venture between Corus Entertainment (which serves as managing partner and owns 80.24% majority control through licensee HGTV Canada, Inc.) and ...
. He is from
Ajax, Ontario
Ajax (; 2021 Canadian census, 2021 population: 126,666) is a town in Regional Municipality of Durham, Durham Region in Southern Ontario, Canada, located in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area.
The town is named for , a Royal Navy cruiser ...
, Canada, with his business located in
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering (2021 population 99,186) is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada, immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region.
Beginning in the 1770s, the area was settled by primarily ethnic British colonists. An increase in population occurre ...
.
Lafrance has been a host on several shows, including ''
Decked Out
''Decked Out'' is a Canadian home renovation television series, which airs on HGTV Canada since 2011. Hosted by Paul Lafrance, a contractor who owns ''Cutting Edge Construction and Design'' in Pickering, Ontario, each episode depicts Lafrance and ...
'', ''
Deck Wars
''Deck Wars'' is a 2011 Canadian television series, airing on HGTV. It is considered a sister series to ''Decked Out'', and like ''Decked Out'', stars Paul Lafrance and his deck building crew. Unlike its sister series, ''Deck Wars'' is a game ...
'', and is a celebrity judge on the second season of ''
Canada's Handyman Challenge
''Canada's Handyman Challenge'' is a Canadian reality game show. The series premiered on January 10, 2012, on HGTV Canada. ''Canada's Handyman Challenge'' is the successor to HGTV's previous series, ''Handyman Superstar Challenge'', similar in fo ...
''. He is also slated to host ''Disaster Deck'', a new series that HGTV is still casting homeowners with deck problems to participate in.
Biography
Lafrance owns local Pickering, Ontario building company ''Cutting Edge Construction and Design''. Lafrance is also the owner/operator and CEO of ''Paul Lafrance Design,'' which specializes in high-end custom deck designs servicing North America.
Lafrance's company has made a name for itself by generating innovative custom deck designs for over 15 years. He has designed and built over one thousand five hundred decks across Southern Ontario.
Lafrance is also known for his love of music and composition. HGTV describes his background as both a musician and a deck builder as an edge that gives him the creativity needed to offer the one-of-a-kind deck concepts that transform backyards.
He was offered his own television show after doing a miracle makeover segment on
Breakfast Television
Breakfast television (Europe, Canada, and Australia) or morning show (United States) is a type of news or infotainment television programme that broadcasts live in the morning (typically scheduled between 5:00 and 10:00a.m., or if it is a ...
. The show, ''Decked Out'' follows Lafrance and his decking company to jobs where Lafrance attempts to make a mini oasis for people in their backyard. While filming ''Decked Out'', Lafrance completed work on ''Deck Wars,'' a reality game show that pits two teams against each other with Lafrance presiding over as judge.
Lafrance describes himself as easily bored and a "counter-culture guy". He says his philosophy around decking comes from a war vet friend who told him decks were places of rest in a crazy world. Lafrance struggled in school, ultimately dropping out, and was told to go into the trades. He is known for being energetic and at one point was working on ''Decked Out'' and ''Deck Wars'' while developing ''Disaster Deck.''
Lafrance is also a musician and was active in the Christian music scene in Ontario. He was a musician before he was a carpenter. His band, Found in the Fury, released Songs from the Cave in 2012.
His work has been featured on several '' Holmes on Homes'', ''
Breakfast Television
Breakfast television (Europe, Canada, and Australia) or morning show (United States) is a type of news or infotainment television programme that broadcasts live in the morning (typically scheduled between 5:00 and 10:00a.m., or if it is a ...
'', and ''
Holmes Inspection
''Holmes Inspection'' is a 2009 Canadian home renovation series on HGTV, co-hosted by general contractor Mike Holmes and construction supervisor Damon Bennett. It is the third of Holmes' renovation series, following ''Holmes on Homes'' and '' Holm ...
''.
In a television interview concerning the opening of his new art gallery, L'Artisan, in the Nautical Village of
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering (2021 population 99,186) is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada, immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region.
Beginning in the 1770s, the area was settled by primarily ethnic British colonists. An increase in population occurre ...
.
Filmography
* ''
Decked Out
''Decked Out'' is a Canadian home renovation television series, which airs on HGTV Canada since 2011. Hosted by Paul Lafrance, a contractor who owns ''Cutting Edge Construction and Design'' in Pickering, Ontario, each episode depicts Lafrance and ...
''
* ''
Deck Wars
''Deck Wars'' is a 2011 Canadian television series, airing on HGTV. It is considered a sister series to ''Decked Out'', and like ''Decked Out'', stars Paul Lafrance and his deck building crew. Unlike its sister series, ''Deck Wars'' is a game ...
'' — host
* ''
Canada's Handyman Challenge
''Canada's Handyman Challenge'' is a Canadian reality game show. The series premiered on January 10, 2012, on HGTV Canada. ''Canada's Handyman Challenge'' is the successor to HGTV's previous series, ''Handyman Superstar Challenge'', similar in fo ...
'' — judge
* ''
House of Bryan
''House of Bryan'' is a Canadian home renovation television series which premiered in 2010 on HGTV Canada. The show follows Bryan Baeumler, host of '' Disaster DIY'' and ''Leave It to Bryan'', as he manages a team of professionals and apprentic ...
'' — guest star, deck builder
* ''
Disaster Decks
A disaster is a serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources ...
''
* ''
Home to Win
''Home to Win'' is a Canadian home renovation reality television series, which premiered April 24, 2016 on HGTV Canada.Custom Built''
* ''
Holmes Inspection
''Holmes Inspection'' is a 2009 Canadian home renovation series on HGTV, co-hosted by general contractor Mike Holmes and construction supervisor Damon Bennett. It is the third of Holmes' renovation series, following ''Holmes on Homes'' and '' Holm ...
Bryan Baeumler
Bryan Baeumler (born 18 April 1974) is a Canadian television host on several HGTV/HGTV Canada shows. A former handyman and businessman, he translated those careers into a series of TV shows about home renovations in Canada and expanding to hote ...
*
Scott McGillivray
Scott McGillivray (born April 7, 1978) is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, television host, author and educator.
McGillivray is the host and executive producer of the series ''Income Property'', a home renovation show on HGTV Canada and the D ...