The Contributions Of Yukon Francophone Women: With Angélique Bernard
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.
Lucie Desaulniers
Lucie Desaulniers was born in 1964 in Morris, Manitoba.
Lucie came to the Yukon in 1985. She actively took part in the artistic scene as soon as she arrived. She was involved in the Frantic Follies, in a musical play, and in the group Route Jazz Ensemble.
She founded the musical group Inconnu in 1990. They won the Aurora Prize for Yukon Group of the Year in 1994.
Lucie sat on the cultural committee of the Association franco-yukonnaise, then on the board of directors of the Western Francophone Artists Group (RADO), the French-Canadian Cultural Federation (FCCF) and the Recording Arts Industry—Yukon Association (RAYIA). She was one of the founding members of the Yukon Women in Music (YWIM) and organized the first tour of women musicians in Yukon and Alaska communities.
Lucie sang during several Dec. 6 ceremonies as part of the activities surrounding the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
Lucie also performed several jazz shows under the name Lucie D and was nominated for a Trille Or award in 2019 for her jazz album Les thèmes de la vie.
Lucie has been recognized for her community work, including the Grand Cœur Award from Air Canada, two Aurora prizes as a Yukon artist, two other awards for her work in the cultural sector during the Gala de la francophonie, the Yukon Teacher of the Year Award in 1999 and the Woman of the Year Award from the group Les Essentielles in 2000.
Marguerite Tölgyesi
Marguerite Tölgyesi was born in 1997 in Val-d’Or, Quebec.
When Marguerite was 13 years old, her family moved to Baker Lake, Nunavut. As there was no dance school, she decided to teach dance to the youth in the community. She was accepted into an international student exchange and went to a school in southern Spain for grade 10, while the rest of her family moved to the Yukon because of her dad’s work. She arrived in Whitehorse in 2012 and graduated from Académie Parhélie high school in 2015.
She was president of the Jeunesse Franco-Yukon (JeFY) youth committee, for several years, and got involved in advocating for a new high school. She sat on the board of directors of the Canadian francophone youth Federation and was elected vice-president in 2018, and president in 2021.
In 2022, she was elected administrator of the Federation of francophone and acadian communities and, in 2025, was elected administrator under 35 at the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques.
Marguerite earned a multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree from the University of Moncton; and a multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree, with a certificate in political science, geography and northern studies from Université Laval.
Since 2023, she has been working at the Association franco-yukonnaise as a youth manager.In the Yukon, Marguerite found her voice as an advocate, highlighting the importance and influence of the francophone presence in Canada’s territories. She continues to pursue her
mission to raise awareness of the issues faced by francophones living in the North.
Stéphanie Chevalier
Stéphanie Chevalier was born in 1976 in Orléans, France.
From 1981 to 1984, her family went to live in the United States. After studies in France, she travelled with her sister to New York, to show her where she was born.
She explored Canada with a backpack and a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). After a short stay in Montreal, Golden and Victoria Island, Stéphanie set foot in the Yukon in 2007.
The Association franco-yukonnaise was her beacon as soon as she arrived in the territory. After working for the organization, she became a contract worker. She was also vice-president and president of the Frostbite Music Festival, and then the executive director of the Yukon Film Society.
In 2013, she went bicycle touring for six months in South America. She went back to Chile in 2016 and met her partner, Ricky. Their daughter Lila was born in 2019.
In 2022, Stéphanie, Ricky and Lila visited friends in the Yukon and ended up settling in the territory. Stéphanie felt extremely relieved when she arrived at the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, as she was coming home!
In 2023, Stéphanie started working at the City of Whitehorse as an economic development coordinator, and she joined the board of directors of the Association franco-yukonnaise in 2024.
In the Yukon, Stéphanie found a supportive community, respectful working conditions and a harmonious environment in which to raise her daughter. Her partner recognizes that few places hold as many favourable conditions for family life as the Yukon.
Sylvie Léonard
Sylvie Léonard was born in 1957 in Montreal, Quebec.
In 1980, Sylvie and her husband decided to settle permanently in the Yukon. When they arrived, they immediately felt at home. They spent their first winter in a log cabin.
She worked at the government of Yukon in 1987, taught computers and programming to adults at Yukon College, worked at NorthwesTel, worked as a part-time travel agent specializing in cruises and had her own business for a few years. She retired in 2019.
Sylvie volunteered for her francophone community: did the layout of the Aurore boréale, sat on the board of directors of the Association franco-yukonnaise and was one of the persons to organize the first sugar shack as part of the Rendezvous Winter Festival. She was part of a group of parents that advocated for a francophone school, was involved in the establishment of La Garderie du petit cheval blanc and was a trustee of the Yukon francophone School Board.
In 2005, she received the Remarkable Woman Award, recognizing her participation and contribution to the Yukon francophone community.
Sylvie is an enthusiastic cook, trying new recipes and ingredients that she has discovered during her many travels.
For Sylvie, the Yukon is a land of opportunities. She is still amazed by the mountains, big valleys, immense lakes, the river that flows in front of her house, the midnight sun and the northern lights. She is immensely grateful to be able to live here, on the territory of the First Nations.
