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Jim Boucher (born February 29, 1958) is the former Chief of the Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN), (1986-1994, 1996-2019). He was also Chairman and President of the Fort McKay Group of Companies (1986-2019), President of the Athabasca Tribal Council (ATC), Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, Vice-Chairperson, Board of Governors of Keyano College in Fort McMurray, Alberta and Chairperson for the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board.
Jim Boucher | |
|---|---|
 Jim Boucher, 2017 | |
| Born | February 29, 1958 Fort McMurray, Alberta |
| Organization | Fort McKay First Nations |
| Predecessor | Dorothy MacDonald |
| Parent(s) | Theodore and Eva Boucher |
Personal Life
editBoucher was born in Fort McMurray, Alberta in 1958 to Theodore and Eva Boucher. Boucher has two children and five grandchildren.
Political Career
editThe Fort McKay First Nation is situated in the heart of Canada’s Athabasca oil sands and is surrounded by industrial development. As a young Chief in the mid-1980s, Boucher recognized that the Fort McKay First Nation community’s location not only posed issues, but also offered opportunities. As a result, he has strategically taken advantage of Fort McKay’s geographical location to enhance the community’s social and economic conditions through effective partnerships with industry and governments and by developing and sustaining successful First Nation-owned businesses that create economic wealth and opportunity.
In 1986, the Fort McKay First Nation came together and decided to form a corporation called the Fort McKay Group of Companies (FMGOC) and begin providing services to the oil industry as a way to provide employment opportunities to their people and generate revenue. [1] Boucher was the Chairman of the Board of the FMGOC from 1986-2019. The FMGOC operates three limited companies, 100% owned and controlled by the Fort McKay First Nation. Under Boucher's leadership, the FMGOC has grown into one of the most successful First Nation-owned business ventures in Canada. It earned an average gross annual revenue of $506 million in the five-year period from 2012-2016. [2] FMFN has created over 13 joint ventures.
Under Jim Boucher's leadership, he negotiated the Fort McKay’s Treaty Land Settlement Agreement in 2003. His strategic and conciliatory approach to this important matter reduced the amount of time it took to negotiate and finalize the Settlement.
In 2017, FMFN along with Mikisew Cree First Nation, invested a combined $500 million to become owners of a 49 per cent stake in a Suncor Energy bitumen storage facility at their operations near Fort McMurray. [3]. It represented the largest business investment to date by a First Nations entity in Canada. [4]
According to Statistics Canada, Fort McKay First Nation had an average after-tax income of $73,571 in 2015, which was higher than both the Alberta average ($50,683) and Canada average ($38,977). [5] Under Jim Boucher’s leadership, FMFN is recognized as one of Canada's most enterprising aboriginal communities.[6]
Jim Boucher is an advocate for environmental protection. Under his leadership, FMFN was instrumental in the development of the Moose Lake Access Management Plan [3]
Awards and Recognition
editBoucher has received many awards and honours throughout his career.
Boucher was named the 2018 Canadian Energy Person of the Year[4] by the Energy Council of Canada[5]. The Energy Council says "Chief Jim Boucher has been, and continues to be, one of the most influential people in Canada, and one of it's most successful Indigenous leaders."[6]
Fort McKay First Nation and Fort McKay Group of Companies were the recipients of the 2018 Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation of the Year, awarded by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB).[7]. In 2009, Jim Boucher also received the Aboriginal Business Award for Lifetime Achievement from the CCAB.[8]
Boucher was named one of The Power 50 - The 50 Most Influential Canadian Business Leaders in 2017 by The Globe and Mail. [9]
Boucher received a Builder of Wood Buffalo Award in 2017
Boucher received the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo's Award for Achievement in Public Service
Boucher received a Regional Recognition Aboriginal Award Lifetime Achievement Award
Boucher established the Chief Jim Boucher Distinguished Alumnus Award at Keyano College
Boucher is a Indspire Award Laureate in 2008[10]
- ^ http://www.cbj.ca/fort_mckay_first_nation/
- ^ https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/community-capitalism-of-the-fort-mckay-first-nation-case-study
- ^ https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/8b30fd00-f8b9-4c2e-ab95-88e0aa3d2f0f/resource/7bb629d4-8edc-4249-b7a1-e3cd66763e7a/download/draft-mooselakemgmtzoneplan-feb2018.pdf
- ^ https://edmontonjournal.com/business/energy/fort-mckay-chief-jim-boucher-named-canadian-energy-person-of-the-year
- ^ https://energy.ca/CEPY2019
- ^ http://energy.ca/energystaging/2018-canadian-energy-person-of-the-year-award
- ^ https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2018/3/fort-mckay-first-nation-recognized-recognized-national-aboriginal-business-award/
- ^ https://www.ccab.com/awards/abhf-lifetime-achievement-awards/
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-power-50-most-influential-canadian-business/article34804742/
- ^ https://indspire.ca/laureate/