Alain was born in Timmins, Ontario and lived his early childhood mostly in Quebec
before moving to Dorion with his family in 1971. There he attended Dorion Public School and Nip Rock High before starting a lifelong career in the logging industry.
He started out working with his dad, Maurice and later obtained his own District cutting license and formed his own company, Alain Fortier Logging. Through many hours of hard work he managed to build a successful business working under the Forest Management Company, Greenmantle Forest Inc.
Over the years Alain, working mainly with his nephew Darrell Fortier and Ray Niivila, helped supply local mills with wood and delivered many loads of firewood to people in the area. He enjoyed all the people he met throughout his years of logging and was a good neighbour and friend to many, always more than willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.