SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The best franco-cultural association in Canada is right here in Yellowknife according to the national French-Canadian Cultural Federation.

The Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife (AFCY) received the 2008 award for cultural development June 16, in Vancouver "for its dynamism in its approach to cultural development in the NWT."

Patrice Lapointe, left, and Roland Charest show off La Vénus de la mer, a sculpture created by artist Jean-Guy Dallaire, which the Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife received for its win. - Alix McNaught/NNSL photo

"I was the happiest person in the world. Why? Because there was a year when we had many difficulties, but now, after a year, with the members of AFCY, we have addressed the situation. It's going very well," said Roland Charest, director general of the association, about this recognition.

The AFCY began 22 years ago and has grown considerably in that time. It was particularly active over the past year.

"We worked very hard. We held 68 activities during the year. We had 10, 612 volunteer hours, and we had over 100 volunteers who participated in the activities," said Charest, adding that membership rose 254 per cent in the last year.

The AFCY was selected based upon criteria which included the association's contribution, exceptional events, artistic and cultural risks, public development and general excellence.

According to Patrice Lapointe, president of the association, they rely heavily upon member and volunteer support and participation.

"Without volunteers we can't have activities, and without activities, we can't have volunteers. We rely a lot on the community. If we don't have a lot of members, we can't do much," he said.

Foremost in the services they provide is the "Cinq à sept," which runs weekly and is an evening event open to anyone, wherein they hold everything from presentations and workshops to karaoke.

During the 42 Cinq à sept held throughout the year, the AFCY also held 14 conferences, including ones focusing upon adult literacy.

The AFCY also put on festivities for St. Jean Baptiste Day, Canada Day, Bastille Day, Acadian Day and the Arctic Winter Games.

According to Charest, it was during the Games that AFCY really proved itself.

"We held a French museum, we created a troupe of young traditional dancers, and we also put on a performance in French that took place at the Tree of Peace. We had the Acadian rappers Jacobus and Maleco, (who performed during the closing ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games). We also had a French choir, who put on a performance during the Games," he said, adding they held an exhibition of francophone works of art and the Cabane à sucre.

In addition to these events, the AFCY is quite active in the schools, particularly Allain St. Cyr.

"We organize performances, conduct conferences. We bring in musicians and we give science workshops, which the youth really like," said Charest.

Next fall, the association is bringing in a speaker to talk to students about suicide, in French and in English.

"There are many suicides here, and I think it's important that we do this," said Charest.

As for where they intend to go from here, Charest said they wish to continue their efforts andinvolve more of Yellowknife's francophone population.

According to Charest, many people have been in Yellowknife for some time without every having participated in the AFCY's events; however, many more are now taking part.

The association is currently funded principally by money from the Department of Canadian Heritage, as well as by the GNWT and through their own activities.

The work of Rudy Desjardins at Radio Taiga was also recognized by the Community Radio Alliance for the most original financing activity.

"We won that because we took part in a snow sculpture competition," said Charest, explaining that they won a diamond in the competition, held a seafood dinner for which the public paid to attend and used the money to finance the station.

"In Canada, it was the most original financing campaign," Charest said.