Canadian premiers have recognized a long-time francophone advocate for her work in the literacy fields in Whitehorse.

Isabelle Salesse was given the Council of the Federation Literacy Award last Tuesday afternoon by the territorial government.

Salesse is the first Yukon recipient to be recognized for work specifically to the francophone community.

That makes this year’s award extra-special, said Premier Sandy Silver and Commissioner Angélique Bernard.

“I am particularly pleased to see that this award is being presented to a fellow francophone for services to the French-speaking community,” Bernard said.

She and Salesse worked at the Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) together at one point. The now-commissioner was the president, while Salesse is currently its executive director.

Bernard and Silver, a one-time teacher himself, presented the award to Salesse.

Humbled to receive the recognition, Salesse took the time to recognize those who inspired her – throughout her childhood and beyond.

“Adult learners are an inspiration for their resilience, their courage and their strength,” she said. She recalled a dear friend who died earlier this year who had learned to read at the age of 47.

“He’s a perfect example that life may not be easy, but you can learn at any age if someone is there to help and support you in your learning process,” Salesse said.

It’s work that’s drawn her in since childhood, as she recalled her grandmother, who lived with her family when she was younger.

She was illiterate: “The only thing she knew is how to count because she had to keep the sheep outside,” Salesse smiled.

“That was fascinating for me,” she added, noting she’d watch as her grandmother tried to sign things like cheques.

That in part prompted Salesse to begin volunteering to help newcomer women learn literacy skills, after which she went to a francophone daycare and eventually found her way to the AFY.

“And this file stayed with me – the people who were learning are the most inspiring people you can meet,” she said.

“Usually they are people who have a different journey than mine – because I was privileged and some of these people were not.”

As she began to realize there were those who weren’t able to participate in the community because of this lack of literacy skills, Salesse became more motivated to help those in need.

With the help of her colleagues and the AFY, she has been able to organize programs that help parents in teaching their children to read and write before beginning school, as well as improve their own skills – whether it be to enter the workforce or not.

Salesse explained that she commonly sees skills taken for granted, such as computer literacy, something especially difficult for those who may not have grown up learning about the technicalities. What can make it more difficult is trying to learn English at the same time.

“Some people say, ‘why do you need to learn how to read and write in French when you live in the Yukon?’

“Well, because it’s always easier to learn with your mother tongue first, then English.”

Salesse admitted there are sometimes feelings of shame connected to not knowing how to read and write as well.

“People are self-conscious and don’t want people to know,” she sighed.

“And it’s a very small community here – never mind the French community is smaller than the majority.”

That’s also partly why the AFY offers a program that allows people to speak to a counsellor of sorts about some employment barriers they face like literacy skills.

“It’s just one approach but I see it’s working,” she smiled. She recalled her late friend who went on to not only read and write, but speak to the community and schools about the importance of not giving up and seeking help.

“School was not a good experience for him,” she said.

Eventually, he was able to write invoices and proposals.

“That made his professional life easier,” Salesse said. “To me, that’s the best reward – to see someone succeeding.”

Presented by Canada’s premiers since 2004, the annual award recognizes recipients across the country for their contributions to innovative practices in literacy, among other things.

It can include family, health, workplace, community and Indigenous literacy, and recipients can be volunteers, learners and educators.