The Yukon's francophone community and several distinguished guests gathered last Friday to honour people who have left their mark on the life of the community in various fields.

The 18th Gala de la francophonie took place at the Yukon Arts Centre. The awards and their recipients for 2012 are:

• DeRuyter-Gendreau Award (Education) – Annie Pellicano and Karine Bélanger;

• Pépin-Landreville Award (Culture and communications) – Hélène Beaulieu;

• Youth Award – Daniel Latour;

• Healthy Francophone Community Award – Laura Salmon;

• Alma Castonguay (Remarkable woman) – Louise-Hélène Villeneuve;

• Tremblay-Létourneau Award (Volunteer involvement) – Roxanne Thibaudeau; and

• Binet-Dugas Award (Services in French) – Jacqueline Vigneux.

Régis St-Pierre also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his tireless work, his commitment and his many years promoting Yukon francophone history in Canada and France.

"The gala provided an opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Association franco-yukonnaise and the defining moments in our history, and underline the importance of the builders in our community that have left their imprints,” said Angélique Bernard, the association's president.

"We would like to thank the artists, volunteers and collaborators who made the evening a resounding success. A warm thank you to the nominees for inspiring us.”

Those interested can visit www.afy.yk.ca in the Living in French in the Yukon section (in French only) to read the winners' biographies.

Since 1982, the association has been the official voice of about 4,500 Yukon francophones, 1,630 of whom have French as their mother tongue.

A non-profit organization, the association aims to improve the Yukon francophone's quality of life in French.