The Leaders at Leader
MEET THE TEAM
François Sauvé
Owner
Franćois Sauvé, aka Franky, originally started his career as a planter and immediately knew it was an industry that he loved. He worked his way up the ranks, becoming a site supervisor after a few years. Finally, in 1991, he chose to branch off and start Leader Silviculture. François loves trees, nature, and the silviculture industry as a whole.
When he’s not working on his various jobs at Leader Silviculture, François loves ski instructing, riding motorcycles, making his own wine, and hanging out with his friends and family.
Serge Arseneau
Site Supervisor, Kamloops and Sea to Sky Corridor
Serge Arseneau is one of Leader Silviculture’s project managers and site supervisors for our Kamloops & Sea to Sky Corridor jobs. He originally went to university for business and got a summer job in 2000 as a planter at another company. After his boss introduced him to Franćois, in 2001, Serge moved to Leader Silviculture. Over the years, his drive, work ethic, and natural leadership has allowed him to rise up the ranks. Serge spends his days planning his projects, balancing tree numbers, and making sure the job site stays safe for everyone.
As a Whistler resident, Serge loved planting because of his ability to ski in the winters. In 2009, Serge met his partner while planting, and they’ve been together ever since. Now, he likes to spend his free time in the Whistler mountains with his partner and his daughter.
Jim Courchesne
Site Supervisor, Merritt
Jim Courchesne is one of Leader Silviculture’s project managers and site supervisors for our Merritt and Interior BC projects. He started planting in 1997 after seeing a job posting in a laundromat. In 2000 or 2001, he met Francois, and worked part-time for Leader Silviculture. In 2004, Jim finally joined full-time after being offered a supervisor position. Now, Jim spends his summers in Merritt, BC coordinating teams, scheduling projects, and optimizing job schedules.
Jim was in University for history when he found planting. He was playing varsity volleyball and planting in the summers, and had plans to become a professor. It wasn’t until he’d been planting for six years that he considered it a real career option. Jim’s favourite part about working for Leader Silviculture is the people he gets to work with. If it weren’t for the incredible people that he got to meet each summer, the job wouldn’t be the same. His goal is to have the planters on his team love it so much that they come back next year with a friend.
Fred Lepage
Site Supervisor, Sea to Sky/Interior BC
Fred Lepage has nearly 25 years of planting experience, with roughly 18 of those at Leader Silviculture. He worked at another company, but after getting tired of being in a camp away from his home home, he was introduced to Francois through a ski patroller in Whistler, where he lives. Now, he’s been a supervisor for us for roughly eight years. He spends part of his season planting jobs in the interior, but most of his season is brushing and slashing jobs in the Sea to sky area.
Fred loves the collaborative and supportive approach that Leader Silviculture has with its teams, which is very different than the “shut up and plant” mentality that he’s experienced in the past. He loves the adventure that every planting season brings - Every year it’s a new area with new people. Sometimes there’s a camp, others there’s a motel. Some sites have trucks or ATVs, others have boats or helicopters. The only thing that doesn’t change is the beautiful views and incredible wildlife. In his off-season, he loves hanging out in Whistler with his friends, family, and his new puppy, Marshall.
