BY SCOTT HADDOW
Wild Northerner staff
Janelle Courchesne is a true Wild Northerner.
The 27-year-old resident of Sturgeon Falls has made it her life to have the outdoors as a main element. From archery hunting for moose in Quebec and New Brunswick and whitetails in Ontario to chasing caribou in James Bay to fishing salmon in B.C. and northern pike in the Yukon and NWT and musky fishing in the French River to backpacking in Algonquin Park, Courchesne has passion and purpose for her outdoors pursuits without question. She loves adventure and seeking out new things.
Courchesne has this high regard for her wild spirit for good reason.
“To me, it means freedom,” she said. “It means truly feeling alive and having the un-ending desire for adventure. It is simply in my nature to explore new places and try new things. It has proven to be the makings of a pretty exciting life.”
Courchesne grew up a daughter of a salmon charter captain. From ages four to 16, every summer was spent in Meldrum Bay on Manitoulin Island. Guy Courchesne was a well-known charter captain and Courchesne was on the boat as the little helper, cleaning up the boat, cleaning fish and anything else she could do. Hunting was also a big part of Courchesne’s life growing up. Along with her father and mother, Louise, Courchesne has been hunting since a young age. She harvested her first deer, with a crossbow, at age 12. Those were pure formative years for Courchesne. They formed the foundation of who she is.
“Growing up in an outdoor environment has been incredibly impactful on my life today,” she said. “I learnt early on the importance of respect and appreciation for our environment. It has made me realize that the time spent outdoors with loved ones is the most precious thing. So many life lessons learnt and values put into place out on the waters and in the woods. This lifestyle has also taught me to not be afraid of hard work and taking on new challenges. There is no other way I would’ve wanted to spend my childhood.”
Courchesne has maintained a steadfast loyalty to her outdoors passion. She met her husband, David, in 2009 on a fly-in fishing trip near Wawa. They quickly realized they both shared the same love for the outdoors, life and each other.
They started their own mining safety company in 2011 called SWP Inc. so they could chase after their dream trips in the wilderness and enjoy the lifestyle. They enjoy exploring new territory together and hope to have an off-grid cabin one day in the woods. They hunt and fish together with their two dogs any chance they get.
“Sharing experiences with Dave means everything to me,” she said. “Having shared the moments and experiences, good and bad, has brought us closer together. Because this lifestyle really is the best way to get to know someone, we continually learn so much from each other, and ourselves. There’s no one I’d rather be doing this with more than him.”
If anything, Courchesne is involved and gives back as much as she can. She is a member of organizations such as Great Canadian Female Anglers, Muskies Canada Sudbury Chapter and part of the walleye hatchery programs in the Lake Nipissing area. She doesn’t like to sit idle either. Courchesne is working on getting her pilot’s licence, recently studied fish and wildlife conservation at Sault College and loves learning new things such as fly fishing, fly tying, photography, birding and foraging in the wild. Courchesne is a driven and determined woman. Courchesne knows no matter how passionate you may be about something, you still have to earn it every time and that doesn’t always come easy.
“Being a True Wild Northerner to me means, not being afraid to put some blood sweat and tears into something you’re passionate about,” she said. “To not give up but learn during the inevitable hardships that come along with the sometimes-difficult lifestyle we ‘insist’ on putting ourselves through. I was brought up in a family that had a deep affinity for the outdoors so it is no surprise to me that I’ve inherited the passion here. When I set out to accomplish something new, doing so usually leads to trying out some-other-thing new in return. There are endless lessons to be learnt out there, you just have to listen, be open minded and persevere when things get a little tough; because sometimes, they do.”
Northern Ontario holds a special place in Courchesne’s heart and always will. She loves the world-class fishing and hunting opportunities afforded to her and others in the region. Whether it is setting her sights on a moose or setting the hook on a musky, northern Ontario is all good to Courchesne.
“The pure night skies, the clean waters and the changing of seasons, everything seems to be so breathtakingly beautiful,” she said. “It is a place where I am proud to call my home and forever my preferred exploring grounds.
They started their own mining safety company in 2011 called SWP Inc. so they could chase after their dream trips in the wilderness and enjoy the lifestyle. They enjoy exploring new territory together and hope to have an off-grid cabin one day in the woods. They hunt and fish together with their two dogs any chance they get.
“Sharing experiences with Dave means everything to me,” she said. “Having shared the moments and experiences, good and bad, has brought us closer together. Because this lifestyle really is the best way to get to know someone, we continually learn so much from each other, and ourselves. There’s no one I’d rather be doing this with more than him.”
If anything, Courchesne is involved and gives back as much as she can. She is a member of organizations such as Great Canadian Female Anglers, Muskies Canada Sudbury Chapter and part of the walleye hatchery programs in the Lake Nipissing area. She doesn’t like to sit idle either. Courchesne is working on getting her pilot’s licence, recently studied fish and wildlife conservation at Sault College and loves learning new things such as fly fishing, fly tying, photography, birding and foraging in the wild. Courchesne is a driven and determined woman. Courchesne knows no matter how passionate you may be about something, you still have to earn it every time and that doesn’t always come easy.
“Being a True Wild Northerner to me means, not being afraid to put some blood sweat and tears into something you’re passionate about,” she said. “To not give up but learn during the inevitable hardships that come along with the sometimes-difficult lifestyle we ‘insist’ on putting ourselves through. I was brought up in a family that had a deep affinity for the outdoors so it is no surprise to me that I’ve inherited the passion here. When I set out to accomplish something new, doing so usually leads to trying out some-other-thing new in return. There are endless lessons to be learnt out there, you just have to listen, be open minded and persevere when things get a little tough; because sometimes, they do.”
Northern Ontario holds a special place in Courchesne’s heart and always will. She loves the world-class fishing and hunting opportunities afforded to her and others in the region. Whether it is setting her sights on a moose or setting the hook on a musky, northern Ontario is all good to Courchesne.
“The pure night skies, the clean waters and the changing of seasons, everything seems to be so breathtakingly beautiful,” she said. “It is a place where I am proud to call my home and forever my preferred exploring grounds.