David Courtemanche, M.A. Leadership, CHE

Committed to Growing Leaders Who Make a Difference

I am the founder and principal consultant of Leading Minds- a leadership development firm established in 1997. With over 30 years of senior administrative experience, I bring a wealth of practical insight to my work. I retired in 2024 after spending 17 years as the founding Director of the City of Lakes Family Health Team. Prior to that, I spent nearly a decade in public office—becoming, at age 39, the youngest elected Mayor in Sudbury’s history. As a municipal leader, I have been honoured to serve on numerous boards and committees, such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities National Board of Directors, the Greater Sudbury Economic Development Corporation, the Sudbury & District Board of Health, the Nickel District Conservation Authority Board of Directors, the Regional Planning & Development Commission, and the Canadian Big City Mayors' Task Force on Immigration. Each role has deepened my understanding of what it means to lead—not simply by making decisions, but by listening, learning, and fostering partnerships that strengthen the fabric of our community and our country.

A lifelong learner, I hold a Master’s Degree in Leadership and am a graduate of the University of Guelph in Political Studies. I am LEADS Canada certified, a LEADS Canada Coach, and a Canadian Health Executive (CHE) under the Canadian College of Health Leaders. My executive training includes programs at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, York University’s Schulich School of Executive Development, and Royal Roads University. I am also certified to deliver Hogan Assessments including the Personality Inventory, the Development Survey, the Motives, Values & Preferences Inventory as well as the Hogan 360.

Over the years, I have been privileged to contribute through volunteer service with a range of non-profit and charitable organizations, including the Canadian Living Foundation’s Breakfast for Learning program, the Sudbury Food Bank, Lifeline Sudbury for Syrian Refugees, the Sudbury Theatre Centre and Music & Film in Motion. In 2023, I was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Ontario College of Family Physicians. Today I volunteer with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals weekly—a role I value deeply. These experiences have reinforced my belief that meaningful change begins with collaboration and a shared sense of responsibility. I have come to appreciate that leadership is not about position or recognition; it is about service, empathy, and the ability to inspire others toward a common purpose.

I am proud of my family—my wife Julie, a French-Canadian artist and retired teacher, and our two children, Josée and France—both independent professionals making a positive difference in the world.