RDÉE Yukon
RDÉE Yukon (Economic Development and Employability Network) offers a range of services to people, businesses and local organizations in order to stimulate the Yukon francophone economic development and thus contribute to creating a favourable climate for the socioeconomic development of all Yukoners.
RDÉE Yukon is the economic development branch of the Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY), the official advocate of francophones in the territory for over 20 years.
More than 3,000 Yukoners speak French and 2,000 French-speaking visitors come to the Yukon every year. The economic contribution of the 150 francophone and francophile entrepreneurs who create jobs in the Yukon is of great importance.
RDÉE Yukon is a member of the RDÉE Canada network. This national network, a creation of ten federal departments and the Francophone communities outside Québec, provides access to Francophone economic development throughout the country.
RDÉE Yukon is active primarily in the tourism sector, integration of youth in the economy, electronic business and bilingual service development and promotion.
Services
Tourism
RDÉE Yukon publishes a high quality visitor’s guide and has a French website who is updated regularly, as well as various promotional tools such as postcards and a tourist exercise book describing the vitality of the French Yukon community.
These promotional tools make it possible to reach a growing French-speaking clientele in the Canadian and European markets.
Furthermore, tourism entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in the Yukon or those already established can take advantage of the marketing initiatives and consulting services in the field of French tourism.
“RDÉE Yukon helped me increase my visibility, particularly through the Great Outdoors Show in Montréal and the visitor’s guide,” said Gérard Cruchon, owner of Bensen Creek Wilderness Adventure and Retreat.
Youth
In collaboration with its partners, the Youth Economic Development Officer offers a variety of tools, information, references, internship, computer lab and other services to youth aged between 15 and 35. Among others, the business incubator service supports youth enterprises.
Juliette Anglehart, owner of a rolfing clinic in Whitehorse said: “Thanks to RDÉE Yukon, I was able to participate in the Mondial de l’entrepreneuriat (world entrepreneurial tradeshow) in Montréal and Ottawa.”
Promotion of bilingual services
More than 150 Yukon businesses offer bilingual services. RDÉE Yukon designed a sticker to affix on windows and counters of participating businesses to clearly indicate the locations where clients can enter and say “Bonjour!”
Furthermore, RDÉE Yukon annually produces the French Services Directory, a practical listing of businesses, associations and government departments offering bilingual services in the Yukon. RDÉE Yukon also organizes the Yukon finals of the Lauriers de la PME, a national award that recognizes the excellence of French small and medium-sized businesses.
“I was very surprised by the quality and number of participants who also work in French in other Canadian provinces. I’d like to be able to speak more French in the future,” said Richard Jamieson, owner of the Men’s World store in Whitehorse and finalist at the Lauriers de la PME.
For more information, please contact us:
RDÉE Yukon
302 Strickland Street
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2K1
Phone: (867) 668-2663
Toll-free (Yukon only): 1-866-673-7632
Fax: (867) 668-3511
yukon@rdee.ca
www.rdee-yukon.ca
