Renée Marguerite Gabrielle Alford, nee Gilly (1924 – 2024)

Renée Alford was born in Paris and obtained a degree at L’ecole de Science Politique de la Sorbonne after the Second World War. She met Monty Alford on a train trip with her family when Monty was enroute to climb in the Alps. They kept in touch and, after Monty took a long canoe trip through Canada and the United States, Renée joined him in Canada.((“Renée Marguerite Gabrielle Alford.” Heritage North Funeral Care, 2024 website: Renée Marguerite Gabrielle Alford – Heritage North Funeral Home.))\\
	
Renée was a dedicated member of the Sacred Heart parish. She worked on the revision of the Education Act for Catholic education in the 1960s and again in the late 1980s. In the later 1960s, she co-founded Yukon Family Service which became Many Rivers. She was president of the Federation of Home and School Associations of the Yukon, when bilingualism was becoming an issue, and gave presentations on the needed development of a French Immersion program. She became one of the first instructors at the new French Language Centre in the early 1970s and retired from that position in 1988. Renée was instrumental in establishing a Teen Parent Centre for Learning, was involved in the Anti-Poverty Coalition, and served on the Health and Social Services Board. In 1997, Renée Alford was awarded the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Medal for her many years of service in the community.((“Renée Marguerite Gabrielle Alford.” Heritage North Funeral Care, 2024 website: Renée Marguerite Gabrielle Alford – Heritage North Funeral Home.))