Valemount, British Columbia
A business adventure
Lisa Levasseur is one of the few people who can make a living doing what they love
Name: Lisa Levasseur
Position/company: General manager of Terracana Ranch Resort in Valemount, B.C.
Services: All-Inclusive sledding packages, ATV trips, hummer tours, riverside log cabins, a full-service restaurant and bar and spa massage therapy—with mountain riding adventure guiding and rentals coming soon.
One of The Boys: Lisa Levasseur’s love for sleds, ATVs and horses has helped her cope with health challenges; here, Levasseur is pictured with friends Pat Godin (L) and Tim Bartaux. —photo courtesy Lisa Levasseur
Past lives: I spent eight years working in California at one of the top Arabian training stables. I bought and sold horses and property with my dad and we started Excella Arabians Training Stable in Stony Plain, Alberta. Then, I was crippled through work, injury and disease; I went through a couple of surgeries and eventually realized training horses was not an option anymore.
I had initiated and invested in Warehouse Billiards in Stony Plain, Alberta, so I started managing it and my brother and I bought out our partners and opened a second location in Spruce Grove. I also volunteered as much time as possible at our corporate head office but I crippled myself again and sold out. After another surgery, I started working for my dad managing the construction of Thorton Court Hotel in downtown Edmonton.
How did you get started? A German family developed the property about 20 years ago with local contractors, including my neighbour, but eventually they shut it down. My dad always wanted a ranch resort—maybe with my love for horses in mind. He ran accross Terracana and bought it when our company was dealing on the Canoe Mountain project about seven years ago. Terracana went through a number of managers during the first couple of years and I was sent to put the right staff in place; after that, I refused to leave.
What is the property like? On the ranch end of things, we’ve been naturally raising our own black angus beef for our restaurants and now selling to the public. I never sold my horses so they are living out their retirement until someone comes along that can help me do more with them. Our neighbours handled all the trail rides, but we’re starting up some unique horse adventures now that they’ve gotten out of it.
On the resort end, it is the perfect getaway in the summer with beautiful riverside log cabins—surrounded by breathtaking mountain views. We specialize in corporate retreats with great meeting facilities and all the outdoor adventure activities for team building. My staff and I tend to spend more time with our summer guests socializing and out fishing and hummer touring. A lot of our sledders have started coming out in the summer for ATVing. We have more ideas in the works, such as developing housing lots so people can buy into and share this lifestyle.
How would you describe your relationship with your customers? Fun and very rewarding. We’ve had a tough time getting this place off the ground and they’ve really supported us and helped out. Can you imagine some of them even giving up play time to do things like build fences or round up cattle? What can I say—I love them!
What do you like most about your job? The people. But I have to say I wouldn’t enjoy my job if it weren’t for all the support from the awesome staff I have—they are a big part of it all, as is my dad.
How often do you ride sleds, ATVs and horses? Not as often as I’d like, but plenty considering I’m supposed to be in a wheelchair.
Describe your community: The economies here are depressed but the lifestyle is rich with all the beauty that surrounds. Generally, the people here understand what is valuable in life and they’d give you the shirt off their back.