Phil Tessier

Iroquois Falls and District Chamber of Commerce

Phil Tessier has owned and operated his own businesses for 36 years, including the highly successful Iroquois Falls Travel Centre since 1982. As a representative of the Iroquois Falls and District Chamber of Commerce, Phil has been part of our Board of Directors for several years now, but was also originally involved with our Model Forest for several years beginning in 1992 when he represented the Town of Iroquois Falls. Phil took a leading role in several LAMF projects in the 1990’s including the building of a boardwalk at kilometer eight of the Abitibi Industrial Road, which is still in use to this day. He also helped out with the renovation of the LAMF Info-Centre Trailer project at Wade Lake, and in the development and operation of the Model Forest Tour for two summers.

Phil is a life-long resident of Iroquois Falls, except for three years he spent in southern Ontario at Oshawa in the mid 1960’s. He and his wife Dolores have five children; Phil Jr., Glen, Barry, Justine, and Spencer ranging in age from 33 to 15. Three of their children are still at home. They also have one grandchild. Phil and Dolores own 150 acres of prime forest land on Nellie Lake, where Phil was one of the first year-round tenants in 1968.

“Being a member of the Board is both satisfying and enjoyable,’ says Phil. ‘I don’t personally like bureaucracy, and there is none on the Board. The members want to get things accomplished. It is great to work with people who share a common desire to do what is best for the forest, and for the region.”

Phil’s travel business helps people to plan and arrange vacation and business trips around the world. He also sees tourism as a big business for the region, with plenty of potential for bringing more people to the north, which in turn brings significant direct and indirect revenue to the regional and local economies.

“People from abroad want to see our Canadian forests,” says Phil. “We’ve had many people from Europe, particularly Germany who are amazed at the diversity of our forests. They just don’t have anything like that in their part of the world. They also get to see how our local people really look after the bush, and keep it well maintained, and clean.”

Our Model Forest is grateful for the time, effort and knowledge that Phil has freely given over the past 12 years on our Board of Directors, and through his solid contribution to several projects. His perspective as an active and engaged businessman, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce, and as a local resident who truly cares about the forest and what it provides us are very valuable.