3 minute read
Role model
STORY BY BRITTON LEDINGHAM | PHOTOS BY KRISTY REIMER
SAM LECUYER HAS ALL HIS IRONS IN THE FIRE.
The 2019 graduate of École francophone d›Airdrie is looking to be a role model for his First Nations community, and the world at large, as he follows his acting, modelling and music passions.
“I do understand that being a role model comes with responsibility,” says Lecuyer. “So I hope to set a clear example for everyone.”
His modelling career is soaring. Not even a year since his first walk down a runway, he appeared in both the New York and Paris Fashion Weeks in February and March, 2020.
“It was super fun because it’s kind of like something out of a movie at that point,” says Lecuyer of walking for Alicia Perrillo and Hamon. “Your brain just doesn’t really process it until the moment, but you just walk out and you do your best.”
From those trips, the 19-year-old’s standout memory is holding his Day Star First Nation flag under the Eiffel Tower.
“That was a really empowering moment for my community, I believe,” says Lecuyer. “It’s like, if you want to be a model, you can do it ... whatever you want to do in life, you can do it.”
Raised proud of his Cree, Saulteaux and French heritage, Lecuyer took an interest in movies at a young age. He would watch movies with his dad, Peter Holford, and got an iPad for Christmas in Grade 5. His first movie was a zombie thriller.
“I would always play the zombie ... I would hold the iPad just running around chasing my friends, and that’s what we thought was a horror movie back then,” he recalls. “I would always go over scenes for movies in my head or in the shower.”
The old iPad is gone, but the hours of filming, acting and editing in iMovie planted a seed.
In the summer of 2019 Lecuyer went to a casting call in Calgary for a First Nations movie.
With some encouragement from the casting director that he could make a career in the industry, he signed with Calgary-based modelling and talent agency Patti Falconer Agencies two weeks later, and “everything has been going up since.”
Lecuyer has done extra roles so far for acting, and is seeking speaking roles. His modelling opportunities began with the 2019 Western Canadian Fashion Week in Edmonton in September.
“I remember I almost threw up the first time walking but my friends calmed me down and I walked perfectly,” says Lecuyer, joking that he looked like the Terminator with his shoulders too high. But he was hooked. “It was like the best rush in my life.”
He then walked in Western Canada Fashion Week in Calgary and another show in Vancouver before getting the call for New York and Paris.
His love for music was fostered in high school by his English and music teacher, Cory Roberts.
“He always saw the creative side in me,” says Lecuyer.
He played the violin, learned to DJ, and now produces music. He is collaborating on a song with a San Diego based artist he is being tight-lipped about, and wants to collaborate with more local and international artists.
Lecuyer also looks up to his George McDougall High School Mustangs football coaches, Chris Glass and Willy Snypes (real name Willie Williams), calling them “local heroes.”
Snypes was featured in the summer 2018 edition of airdrielife, and is similarly multi-talented, with endeavours in firefighting, music production and football coaching.
“One person can do so much and be successful at it,” says Lecuyer. “And that’s what I’m trying to accomplish with acting, music production, modelling, everything.”
He finished upgrading his high school math virtually through Aboriginal Futures in Calgary during COVID-19. He’s accepted into SAIT’s welding program in Calgary for September, with plans to pursue music production education in the future.
“I learned from my parents, because if Plan A doesn’t go according to plan, what are you gonna do?” says Lecuyer, giving a nod to his mom, Shannon Sunshine. “You always have Plan B, C and D right after to fall back on. And it doesn’t mean it’s done forever; it just means you got to work equally as hard.” life Watch for what Lecuyer will do next. You can find him on Instagram at @SamThomasLecuyerVIRTUAL TOUR360˚ 360˚
