Sacha McLean

Sacha McLean is Chairman of 50° North Productions, a scripted television production company. He also leads Gun Lake Pictures, a factual television production company. In addition, Sacha is Vice Chairman, McLean Group, a second-generation diversified family holding company active in film and television studios, helicopter charters, real estate investment, communications, and corporate investments. Sacha joined the McLean Group in 1997 and in 1999, was the founder of Vancouver Film Studios, a technically-sophisticated film and television production facility that today includes: 12 sound stages and production offices; a production equipment rentals company (Pacific Backlot Services); a telecommunications division (Signal Systems); an aerial film unit (Blackcomb Helicopters); and a non-scripted television production division (Gun Lake Pictures). Home to hundreds of international feature films and television series since its inception, Vancouver Film Studios was the recipient of the 2013 BC Export Award for excellence in the category of Digital Media and Entertainment. Sacha is a commercial helicopter and jet pilot, and in 2005, was family lead on the expansion of the McLean Group's aviation interests. The result was Blackcomb Helicopters, a helicopter charter company operating a large and varied fleet of aircraft, out of permanent bases in Vancouver, Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, Sechelt, Lillooet, and the Bridge River Valley. The company provides specialized flight operations in powerline construction and maintenance, film and television, forestry, mining, emergency services, and is very active in the tourism sector. Sacha gives generously of his time to the community and, as such, is a Director of Cascade Public Media (KCTS Television - Seattle), a Director of West Point Grey Academy, and a member of the executive committee of the BC Chapter of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO). He is also a Director of the McLean McCuaig Foundation, his family's philanthropy arm. Former Board appointments include serving on the Executive Committee and as a Director with the Vancouver Board of Trade, the Faculty Advisory Board of the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, as well as the Whistler Film Festival. Sacha McLean has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Urban Geography, Geographic Information Systems, and Urban Planning from Queen's University and in 2008, completed the Families in Business program at Harvard University. Sacha was a winner of an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014 as well as the Business In Vancouver 40 Under 40 Award.