2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Les Essentielles. For this occasion, short biographies of Yukon francophone women will be presented throughout the year in the pages of our paper. Thank you to l’Association franco-yukonnaise, l’émission Rencontres, and l’Aurore boréale for their collaboration in this project.
Edith Bélanger
Edith Bélanger was born in 1975 in Mont-Laurier, Quebec. When she was 13 years old, the family moved to Radisson, in Mid-Northern Quebec.
Edith came to the Yukon for the first time in the summer of 1995 and came back permanently in 2000 after completing her university studies in leisure, culture and tourism.
Edith was a French monitor and then worked at the Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) as the manager of the cultural sector, the manager of tourism and, since 2019, the director of economic development.
From 2007 to 2014, she did contract work in the field of arts and culture, including the coordination of the Rotary Music Festival, the coordination of artistic and cultural events and medal presentation ceremonies at the 2012 Arctic Winter Games, the coordination of the Cranberry Christmas Fair, and she also worked with a Yukon artist agent.
Edith sat on various boards of directors, including the Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay, the Association franco-yukonnaise, the French-Canadian Cultural Federation, the Yukon Arts Centre and the Yukon Francophone School Board.
Edith loves outdoor activities such as whitewater canoeing, canoe camping, biking, bicycle touring, camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and hunting. Travelling also represents an important part of her life as it allows her to explore new places, discover different cultures, taste various local foods and meet other people.
Edith arrived in the Yukon attracted by grandiose scenery and infinite opportunities for outdoor activities. She has also discovered artistic and cultural wealth, established deep friendships and started her family.
Karine Bélanger
Karine Bélanger was born in 1973 in Mont-Laurier, Quebec.
In 1992, Karine came to the Yukon to work as a French monitor at École Émilie-Tremblay for one year. Karine returned to Quebec to study at the Université of Sherbrooke, in elementary and secondary education, after two years of studying civil engineering. She came back to the Yukon every summer during her studies to work as a lifeguard and pool manager.
After receiving her diploma, she came back to settle in the territory in 1999. A Yukon teacher since 2000, Karine has specialized in experiential programs over the last 13 years. As part of the PASE 9 and FACES 10 programs that encompass social sciences and natural sciences 9 and 10, she finds ways to include school competencies during land expeditions.
Karine offered, among others, canoeing classes, especially for women. She liked to see participants discover their skills and develop their confidence on the water. She had the opportunity to offer classes with several allies, including her daughter Sophie, sister Edith and niece Lia.
Karine is a very caring woman. Her friendships are important, and people feel welcome in her home or during outdoor activities. In her free time, we can find her paddling rivers, biking and hiking trails, cross-country skiing and exploring the Yukon backcountry. She is always happy to share a meal or camping advice!
In the Yukon, Karine discovered a love for nature, a close relationship with the territory’s lifestyle, and the ability to live in the moment.
Kristiane Sormany-Albert
Kristiane Sormany-Albert was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1978.
Kristiane and her family arrived in the Yukon on Jan. 1, 1988. She went into Grade 4 at École Émilie-Tremblay and became the first graduate of the school in 1996. From grades 10 to 12, she was the only student in her class.
She volunteered at francophone cultural events such as sugar shacks and potluck dinners. From grades 7 to 12, she also worked at the Garderie du petit cheval blanc daycare.
She completed a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in French at the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick, in 2000. She completed her master’s degree in education in 2012 and, in 2017, became an instructional consultant at the Conseil scolaire francophone de Colombie-Britannique.
Her enthusiasm and determination have earned her several awards: the Canada Day Youth Award for her community work, a writing prize, a French studies bursary, the Audrey McLaughlin Bursary for finishing at the top of her class, an Academic Merit Scholarship from the University of Moncton, and the Women’s Directorate Award for her decision to finish high school at the French school.
In the Yukon, Kristiane discovered the wealth of francophone communities in a minority setting. It is in this unique territory that she found a community with strong roots, allowing her to build her identity as a proud francophone and passionate teacher. The Yukon offered her an environment where she could thrive and where she learned the importance of solidarity and resilience.
Laurence Rivard
Laurence Rivard was born in 1993 in Val-d’Or, Quebec, and spent her entire childhood there.
Laurence was president of the student council and a student representative on her school’s governing board, then vice-president of the Student Association on the Val-d’Or Campus of the Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and vice-president of the Biology Student Association at Université Laval.
Laurence and her partner lived in Montreal. When he lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple thought it would be a good opportunity to go and spend a year in the Yukon. When they arrived in Whitehorse in 2021, they immediately fell in love with the place and didn’t want to leave.
Laurence worked for a few months at the Association franco-yukonnaise and then landed the position of executive director of the group Les Essentielles. Buying the Essentielles building is one of her proudest achievements during her years with the group. This will ensure that the organization continues to operate long into the future. In the fall of 2024, she became the executive director at the Yukon Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Since her arrival in the Yukon, Laurence has accomplished many things she never imagined she would do: run a half marathon, coach a team for the Canadian francophone Games, be an extra in a documentary on burlesque, organize a solidarity gathering with Palestinian women and a retreat for francophone women.
In both her personal and professional life, the Yukon seems able to satisfy her need for new experiences.
