After leading the fortunes of the Société des Establishments de Plein Air du Québec (SÉPAQ) for almost five years, President and CEO Jacques Caron has decided to take a well-deserved retirement.
On October 27, he left the presidency from which he managed Sépaq with its 45 establishments divided into game reserves, national parks and tourist facilities. During peak season, he managed more than 3,000 employees.
“We can imagine tourist facilities such as the Aquarium du Québec or the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, which can accommodate more than a million visitors a year, including 700,000 from outside,” explains the former CEO. These are just two examples of what goes on in such a large organization.
“For me, Sépaq is a tourist attraction for outdoor activities for Quebecers. She is an area and investment manager. It is a real machine of nature, happiness and health that could help heal people who need contact with nature.
“During the pandemic, we have fulfilled our mission, for example by welcoming more than 10 million visitors to the national park network,” he added.
LARGE FILES
The position as CEO of Sépaq leaves no room for improvisation.
“You have to have knowledge of human resources management, be able to manage very complex files and adapt to all sorts of things, without forgetting knowledge of accounting and finance.” We are a commercial Crown corporation. We have budgets of more than $200 million to manage. »
As a man of challenge, he was able to solve important problems that allowed Sepaq to fulfill its role as a commercial company that must strive for a balance between income and expenses. He also implemented a new operations management system, which was successful.
One of the big problems he had to solve was taking over part of the outfitter Safari Anticosti.
“The acquisition of this gem made it possible to expand the offering on the island for Quebecers, both for deer hunting and for vacation. This island is a collective wealth that has also been recognized as a UNESCO Jewel, which could contribute to its development. »
There was also the outfitter Rivière Madeleine in Gaspésie, which is now part of the Chic-Chocs game reserve.
“This small area of 40 square kilometers offers great salmon fishing opportunities, but there is also potential for elk hunting. There is also a very nice chalet. All these elements allow Sépaq to offer exceptional, easily accessible products. »
“We have taken over the government in this matter. This outfitter was previously managed by Investissements Québec. It is not the job of this government agency to deal with hunting and fishing issues. »
Under his leadership, Sépaq has also made the transition towards sustainable development.
Turns green
“This organization must be environmentally friendly by taking concrete measures such as electrifying our means of transport and abandoning large generators that run on diesel, for example, without forgetting the treatment of waste materials.” »
During the interview, he explained to us everything Sépaq should do regarding climate change, embarking on digital transformation and even solving the labor shortage. This problem is particularly severe in remote regions where there are several companies.
The challenge of the pandemic
After everything he has experienced as CEO, he believes that managing staff and customer activities during the pandemic has been his most difficult task.
“We had to adapt on the spot, always gradually, while everything was closed, or partially. There were health measures. Certain activities were more difficult to carry out, such as staying in chalets away from family circles, hunting and fishing.
“We also had to adapt to teleworking while headquarters were closed. We had to be sure that services were delivered in the same way to the public, but also to our field staff who rely on the headquarters.
“During this pandemic, Quebecers have been trapped in Quebec. I am very proud to say that we were able to adequately serve them through our facilities and introduce them to Quebec. All Sepaq teams have worked hard to achieve this feat. »
Now that it’s time for him to pass the torch, he mentions that for the next ten years he wants to live his passions of hunting, fishing and traveling to the fullest without sacrificing quality time with his family forget.
The environment is losing an important ally in all activities in nature. We have to hope that Sepaq will continue the established momentum.
