The branches of our tree are as strong as its roots!
The people who volunteer and work at the Boucher Forest Foundation share the values that guide every action we take.
Our Staff
Martin Chevalier – Executive Director
Martin Chevalier has long been passionate about nature and environmental protection. It was during his studies in Social Sciences at UQAT that he became actively involved in promoting the 3Rs and revitalizing regional recycling parks.
He later pursued experiential tourism and ecotourism studies at UQAC. Combining his knowledge and interests, he went on to manage a regional park in the Laurentians for seven years.
Martin has a strong interest in the challenges surrounding natural area conservation, environmental education, and equitable access to outdoor spaces and their resources.
Caroline Poulin – Director of Operations – Conservation, Development and Maintenance
Caroline has always been passionate about outdoor activities, nature, and travel. Originally from Aylmer, she spent much of her youth exploring the trails and discovering Boucher Forest. She gained extensive experience in reforestation and revegetation while working as a forestry technician and has participated in several invasive plant control projects.
Forests, their protection, and the conservation of wildlife and plant life are causes that are very close to her heart. She is delighted to be part of the Boucher Forest Foundation family and to contribute to the well-being of this beautiful natural environment.
Émilie Benichou – Programming and Communications Coordinator
Émilie has always been passionate about nature and finding new ways to help people discover it. With a bachelor’s degree in communications and a technical diploma in natural environment studies, she enjoys connecting what happens in the field with meaningful ways of sharing it with the public.
She enjoys organizing activities just as much as showcasing them through content that inspires people to get outside, explore, and get involved. Making environmental issues more tangible and accessible is one of her daily motivations.
Our Board of Directors
Ariann Bouchard – President
Ariann is passionate about nature and the arts and sees the preservation of natural spaces as a profound source of inspiration. As a dedicated artist and manager, she has devoted her career to supporting community development in the Outaouais region. Convinced of Boucher Forest’s potential, she is committed to contributing to its protection and accessibility for residents by bringing her expertise and energy to the Foundation.
Maurice Thibaudeau – Vice-President
A forestry specialist for more than 35 years, Maurice is passionate about ornithology, photography, and many other fields. He is actively involved in conserving biodiversity within urban forests.
Isabelle Giroux – Treasurer
Isabelle grew up in the Outaouais region and spent much of her youth enjoying outdoor activities. She is a public policy analyst who is equally comfortable working with numbers and words. Isabelle is involved with the Boucher Forest Foundation because she cares deeply about protecting and enhancing natural spaces. She hopes that her two children will also have the opportunity to grow up surrounded by nature.
Lyne-Marie Tremblay – Secretary
Lyne-Marie has lived in the Jardins Lavigne neighbourhood for more than 20 years. She regularly hikes in Boucher Forest and enjoys its beauty in every season. A nature enthusiast, she is highly aware of environmental issues and fully appreciates the value of this forest gem within our city.
Line Thiffeault – Board Member
Line is passionate about nature and spends much of her free time exploring parks and wildlife reserves across Québec, Canada, and beyond. The preservation of natural environments and sustainable development are causes close to her heart. She believes that Boucher Forest has tremendous potential that should be preserved and made accessible to the community.
Anik Des Marais – Board Member
For Anik, Boucher Forest is Gatineau’s left lung and deserves both protection and recognition. During her term as a municipal councillor, she became a strong advocate for this cherished forest, a commitment she now continues through the Foundation. Anik works in international development with the federal government and recognizes the importance of protecting natural environments for people’s well-being, climate resilience, and the preservation of global biodiversity.
Sylvie Savard – Board Member
An experienced manager in the community and environmental sectors, Sylvie Savard has more than 25 years of experience leading non-profit organizations in Canada and internationally. She has managed a regional park, coordinated humanitarian projects, and overseen operations in finance, administration, and human resources.
Holding a master’s degree in project management and a bachelor’s degree in recreation studies, Sylvie is known for her leadership, strategic vision, and passion for nature. She now brings her expertise to the Boucher Forest Foundation in support of conservation, education, and the enhancement of the territory.
Daniel Bourgeois – Board Member
Daniel Bourgeois brings more than three decades of senior-level expertise in law and taxation to the Boucher Forest Foundation. Over a distinguished 31-year career, he has held key leadership roles, including tax specialist at PwC Canada and Senior General Counsel at the Department of Justice Canada.
His extensive knowledge of legal and tax frameworks is a major asset to the Foundation. He plays a key role in strengthening our governance, ensuring that the organization operates with the highest standards of accountability and transparency in fulfilling its conservation and education mission.
Passionate about protecting natural spaces, Daniel is committed to applying his strategic vision to support the long-term sustainability and development of Boucher Forest, an essential natural treasure for our community.
Simon Paquin – Board Member
Simon is originally from the Outaouais region, where he enjoys exploring the many green spaces that characterize the area. A passionate nature enthusiast, he has worked in ecology and natural habitat conservation for nearly ten years.
He joined the Boucher Forest Foundation to support its conservation initiatives and help balance public access to the forest with the protection of the vital ecosystem services it provides to wildlife and to the residents of the Outaouais region.