Cécile Girard
Cécile Girardwas born in Chénéville, Québec and her family moved to Laval when Cécile was twelve. She studied history at the Université de Montréal and received a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts from the University du Québec in Montreal. She joined her sister in the Yukon 1981.1) She started making wool batting stuffed dolls that she sold in Alaskan and Yukon shops.2)
Cécile created the Yukon francophone flag in 1986. She worked with others to establish La Gardierie du petit cheval blanc daycare and chaired the first board of directors. She was director and editor of l’Aurore boréale newspaper from 1988 to 2013. She co-authored Un Jardin sur le toit, wrote and illustrated J’ai mis tes mocassins (1993), and co-authored the play Un Boulet poids plume for the Health Community Network.3)
In 2017, Cécile led the De fil en histoires/Stitches in Time doll project. She is a member of the La bête à cinq têtes artist collective that presented the exhibition La Chasse-galerie [The Flying Canoe] at the Yukon Arts Centre in 2023.4)In retirement, Cécile returned to her first love, making her beautiful stuffed dolls.5)
In honour of her community work, Cécile Girard was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee medal.6)