L'Association Franco-Yukonnaise (L'AFY) received funding Wednesday to develop French-language tourism products and services in the territory.

The organization received $108,300 over two years through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor).

With the money, L'AFY will develop bilingual tourism marketing programs and improve French-language services for tourists.

The organization will also be able to offer tours to Quebec media and travel professionals and develop a pilot home stay program that could be offered through tour operators.

"For the first time since L'AFY's tourism service was established in 2003, we will have the means to directly support Yukon entrepreneurs in developing the supply of bilingual tourism services and products,” Angelique Bernard, L'AFY's president, told a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

The Whitehorse and the Yukon chambers of commerce have also received funding, it was announced yesterday.

The Whitehorse chamber received a commitment for $942,000. CanNor will provide $747,000 over two years, while the Yukon government will cover the difference.

The money will allow the continuation and development of several programs. Those include a program designed to help advance women in the workplace, and education and training initiatives.

"The chamber, in recent months and years, has been actively involved in working to develop diversification in the private sector in the Yukon,” said Murray Arsenault, the chamber's treasurer.

"Through our partnering for success program, our business training fund, our Yukon business development program, and our business retention and expansion program, we've seen the success and growth of many Yukon businesses.

"With this announcement made today, we can continue that work by continuing to offer support to our members through the training and business support programs we offer, particularly to the small and

medium-sized enterprise (SME) business community in the Yukon.”

"The Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce has been working to promote and support the growth of the SME community in Whitehorse and Yukon for the past several years,” added chamber president Rick Karp.

"This funding from CanNor and the Yukon government will allow us to give training and support so that our businesses can grow and prosper creating jobs and wealth for all Yukon.”

The Yukon Chamber of Commerce will receive $98,615 in total funding – $86,990 through CanNor and $11,625 through the territorial Department of Economic Development.

Most of the money will be used to enhance the chamber's Lunch Lecture Series.

"One of the ways that we've been successful at having our business community come together, exchange ideas, exchange business cards, build partnerships with one another, is to have lunch,” explained Darielle Talarico, the Yukon chamber's chair.

"CanNor funding will enable the Yukon Chamber of Commerce to facilitate discussions and engage the business community and wider Yukon in efforts to build a strong and sustainable economy for the

territory's future,” Talarico added.

"The chamber will be bringing lectures, panel discussions and workshops to the community chambers in Dawson City, Mayo (as part of the Silver Trail Chamber of Commerce) and Watson Lake, as well as Whitehorse and Yukon communities currently unserved by community chambers of commerce.”

CanNor's funding contribution to the three organizations totals more than $940,000, as Yukon MP Ryan Leef highlighted at Wednesday's announcements.

"These investments will foster business growth development and diversification in the Yukon and encourage increased participation by Yukoners in the business sector,” he said.

"We all have a common goal to strengthen Yukon's business sector by encouraging networking and training opportunities and building the capacity of our local entrepreneurs.”

"A healthy and thriving business sector will identify and capitalize on economic growth opportunities and circulate those dollars locally,” said Economic Development Minister Currie Dixon.

"The Departments of Economic Development and Education will continue to work with CanNor to promote access to training for all Yukoners as our territory's economy develops and diversifies.”