Yolette Lévy

Yolette Lévy (May 15, 1938 – December 6, 2018) was a Haitian-born Canadian politician and activist from Val-d'Or, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. She was for many years a municipal councilor in Val-d'Or. Originally a pharmacist, she also worked as a feminist activist, trade unionist, and defender of the rights of seniors.

Early life Yolette Lévy was born May 15, 1938, in Haiti. She hailed from Cap-Haïtien.

Career Levy worked as a pharmacist in Haiti, before fleeing Duvalierism, arriving in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), and teaching for four years in the service of UNESCO. She and her husband, Jean-Emmanuel Alfred, then submitted their applications for teaching positions in Val-d'Or. She arrived in Val-d'Or in 1969, to work as a chemistry teacher at the Le Carrefour high school; her husband taught literature. Upon her arrival she and her husband were among the 12 Haitians in the city.

She became involved in the teachers' union in 1972. On April 8, 1982, she was elected president of the (Union of Education Workers of Northwestern Quebec) (STENOQ) and held this position until June 1984. In June 1984, she was elected to the executive council of the (School Board Teachers' Commission) of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec. During her union career, she defended several issues concerning women, such as maternity leave, the right to abortion, child care services, and led a major push for pay equity. She also led workshops on the involvement of women in politics.

From 1996 to 2009, Lévy sat as a municipal councilor in Val-d'Or. but lost the 2009 elections. During her mandates, she contributed to the revision of the family policy, the implementation of the Taxibus public transport service, defending community organizations, and supporting cultural development.

In 2015, she became president of the section of the (AQDR) (Quebec Association for the Defense of the Rights of Retired and Pre-Retired Persons) in Val-d’Or.

Personal life She was the mother of three children: Yolette, Jean-Emmanuel, and Henry-Philippe Alfred.

In December 2017, the Regroupement des femmes de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue supported the creation of an honorary prize, the Yolette Lévy Award. Élizabeth Larouche was the first person to receive the prize inn 2019. In February 2019 a local beer is created in her memory : Yolette-du-Monde.

Awards and honours 2005: Alexina-Croteau Prize, prize from the Regroupement des femmes de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue which highlights the work of women who have distinguished themselves by their constant commitment to the cause of women in local and regional development 2017: (Lieutenant Governor's Medal)