Les Essentielles

What Les Essentielles does

Les Essentielles is a Yukon-based non-profit organization founded in 1995 to serve the Franco-Yukonnaise community - French-speaking women and gender-diverse people (cis, trans, and non-binary) of the Yukon territory. It operates a physical community hub called Le local at 3089 3ème Avenue in Whitehorse (open Monday through Thursday, 10h-17h), delivering free services including a frozen-meal solidarity program (Les Cong'elles), a Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (Bébé en santé, avenir en santé) running from pregnancy to a child's second birthday, a feminist library, daily living services (showers, laundry, water access, clothing exchange), confidential meeting space, and the Mur des Arts exhibition wall. The organization is governed by a member-elected board of directors and is staffed by a small team (1-10 employees, four named including Directrice Générale Nina Brandelik effective September 1, 2025).

The revenue model is predominantly government-funded: a flagship $2.4M+ grant from the Government of Canada in August 2023 financed the acquisition of a permanent Whitehorse property. Membership is free (no individual membership fees are charged), and there is no commercial product, app, API, or proprietary software platform; technology usage is limited to a public website (lesessentielles.ca), social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn under the yukonelles/Les Essentielles Yukon handles), and an Airtable-based registration form.

The organization is embedded in the Franco-Yukonnais institutional ecosystem as a member of the Table de gouvernance de la Franco-Yukonnie alongside AFY, CSFY, PCS, and SHFY, and participates in advocacy nationally via the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne (AFFC), the Coalition des femmes du Yukon (since 2012), and internationally via the UN Commission on the Status of Women (2023, 2024) and the Coalition travail invisible (since 2024). With approximately 300+ active members concentrated in a small territorial population, Les Essentielles occupies a category-of-one position: it is the only organization in Yukon dedicated specifically to serving Franco-Yukonnaises.

Name

Les Essentielles

Legal name

Les Essentielles

Website

https://lesessentielles.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Les Essentielles is a Yukon-based non-profit founded in 1995 that serves Franco-Yukonnaises (French-speaking women and gender-diverse people) through a Whitehorse community hub offering free perinatal support, frozen-meal programs, daily living services, advocacy, and awareness campaigns across the territory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

Keywords

• Women's community services
• Prenatal nutrition programs
• Francophone community support
• Feminist advocacy services
• Gender equality programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitehorse

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Les Essentielles is primarily funded through government grants. In August 2023, the Government of Canada allocated over $2.4 million to purchase a property in Whitehorse to establish a permanent space for cultural activities, workshops, and community support.
2. Membership Dues: Membership is free for eligible Franco-Yukonnaises (women who identify as cis, trans, or non-binary and can understand/speak French). No membership fees are charged.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Les Essentielles is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 1995 that serves Francophone women and gender-diverse people (Franco-Yukonnaises) in the Yukon territory. It delivers a community space (Le local), a frozen-meal solidarity program (Les Cong'elles), perinatal nutrition services through the Bébé en santé, avenir en santé / PCNP program, daily-living services such as showers and laundry, a feminist resource library, a talent bank (Banque de talents), and gender-equality awareness and advocacy programming. Membership is free for eligible Franco-Yukonnaises, and the organization is funded primarily through government grants and is governed by an independent Board of Directors.

Product overview

Les Essentielles is a non-profit community organization founded in 1995 serving Franco-Yukonnaises. The organization operates as a single unified service hub offering multiple interconnected programs: a community space (Le local) providing daily life support services; Les Cong'elles, a solidarity freezer meal program; the Banque de talents skills-sharing platform; the Bébé en santé, avenir en santé prenatal health program (PCNP); awareness and education campaigns; and advocacy/representation services. Membership is free and primarily serves women, trans, and non-binary French-speaking individuals in Yukon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bébé en santé, avenir en santé: A program offering free services in French to Francophone families in Yukon, from pregnancy to the baby's second birthday. Part of the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (PCNP).
• Les Cong'elles

Products and services

• Les Cong'elles (Frozen Meal Solidarity Program) A frozen-meal solidarity program that distributes frozen meals to Francophone women and gender-diverse people in Yukon facing food insecurity. Operated as a community-service offering for members and eligible community members.
• Le local (Community Space) A physical community space operated by Les Essentielles that serves as a hub for members to gather, access services, and participate in programming. Located in Whitehorse, Yukon, and operated by the community development staff.
• Ressources (Resource Library) A feminist resource library maintained by Les Essentielles, providing members with curated informational resources on gender equality and community topics.
• Services de la vie quotidienne (Daily Life Services) Daily-life support services provided to members, including access to showers and laundry facilities. Targeted at Francophone women and gender-diverse people in Yukon who require access to basic amenities.
• Banque de talents (Talent Bank) A community talent bank maintained by Les Essentielles to surface and connect skills within the Franco-Yukonnais community for mutual support and engagement.
• Bébé en santé, avenir en santé (Healthy Baby, Healthy Future) — PCNP A perinatal nutrition program for French-speaking pregnant individuals and new parents in Yukon, operated under the federal Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (PCNP). Provides nutrition support and community programming during the perinatal period.
• Sensibilisation et éducation (Gender-Equality Awareness Campaigns) Awareness and education campaigns on gender equality delivered by Les Essentielles for the Francophone community in Yukon and at the territorial advocacy level.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2.4M in government funding secured for a permanent community space in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Coalition travail invisibleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Les Essentielles is part of the coalition on invisible work in partnership with AFEAS since 2024. The project aims to propose legislation to recognize the value of invisible labor. The coalition meets monthly.
• Fondation canadienne des femmes / UN Commission on the Status of WomenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023 and 2024, Les Essentielles were part of the Canadian Women's Foundation delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. This is the largest annual UN gathering dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
• Commission Scolaire Francophone du Yukon (CSFY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSFY is responsible for French first-language education across the Yukon territory, managing three schools, a home-schooling program, a Dawson French program, and the Garderie du petit cheval blanc daycare. Les Essentielles collaborates with CSFY on shared community initiatives and representation within the Franco-Yukonnais institutional ecosystem.
• Garderie du petit cheval blanccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA French-language daycare providing quality childcare accessible to all eligible children, contributing to a strong and viable Franco-Yukonnais community. A periscolar service is offered to children attending École Émilie-Tremblay from kindergarten to grade 12 and on pedagogical days. Les Essentielles shares programming and community connections with this partner.
• Partenariat communauté en santé (PCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe French-language health network in the Yukon, promoting health services in French by listening to the community and participating in planning, implementation, and evaluation of health services through innovative strategies to increase access to quality French-language health services in the territory. Les Essentielles co-hosts the Bébé en santé, avenir en santé (PCNP) program within its premises.
• Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA non-profit organization founded in 1982 that actively contributes to the vitality of Franco-Yukonnais life. AFY organizes community events, offers varied services, and serves as the official spokesperson for Francophones in the Yukon. Les Essentielles is a member of the Table de gouvernance de la Franco-Yukonnie alongside AFY and collaborates on advocacy and community initiatives.
• Centre des femmes Victoria FaulknercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA women's centre aspiring to a world where women can walk safely, live healthy lives, excel in leadership roles, and be supported. Programs include daily centre access, a safe place (weekends), a pregnant women's suite, Healthy Moms Healthy Babies, a weekly lunch program, housing assistance, rights advocacy, and public education. Les Essentielles co-organizes the May sexual violence prevention campaign and the 16 Days of Action against gender-based violence with this partner. Les Essentielles is also a partner in the Next Gen Men youth mentorship project coordinated by this centre.
• Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne (AFFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AFFC ensures mobilization and development of its network to better defend the rights of Francophone and Acadian women and create a feminist and inclusive society. Les Essentielles attends the AFFC annual congress each year, and the AFFC coordinates awareness campaigns that Les Essentielles relays locally.
• Coalition des femmes du YukoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA network of non-governmental organizations working toward equality, with a common goal of improving the well-being of Yukon women who identify as female across the territory. Les Essentielles has held a representation role in this coalition since 2012.
• La Table de gouvernance de la Franco-YukonniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA governance table grouping the directions and presidents of Franco-Yukonnais institutions and organizations: AFY, L'Aurore boréale, CSFY, Les Essentielles, PCS, and SHFY. Members coordinate their efforts in realizing concerted strategic actions with positive impacts for the Franco-Yukonnais community. On April 9, 2024, the table committed to advancing reconciliation with Yukon First Nations.
• ÉlanceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA firm specializing in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Les Essentielles collaborated with Élance to review its activities, services, spaces, approach, and practices, identifying areas for improvement to better include all those who could benefit from its programs while remaining faithful to its mission. The team received training on DEI basics, unconscious biases, and privileges.
• AFÉASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLes Essentielles partnered with AFÉAS since 2024 on the Coalition travail invisible, which aims to propose legislation recognizing the value of invisible labor.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Centre des femmes Victoria Faulkner: Whitehorse-based women's centre providing shelter, daily programming, Healthy Moms Healthy Babies, and sexual violence prevention campaigns — Les Essentielles' co-organizes the May campaign and 16 Days of Action with this organization, making it the closest functional peer in territory.
• YWCA Yukon: Territorial women's organization operating in Whitehorse with shelter and advocacy services targeting women and gender-diverse people; overlaps with Les Essentielles on gender-based violence support and member services in the same Yukon catchment.
• Yukon Status of Women Council: Yukon-wide council advancing gender equality through policy research and advocacy; comparable to Les Essentielles in mission (women's equity) but differs by operating primarily in English rather than French.

Others

• Coalition des femmes du Yukon: Network of NGOs working toward Yukon women's well-being in which Les Essentielles has held a representation role since 2012; comparable as a coalition partner and parallel territorial women's-voice entity but not a direct service competitor.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: National grantmaking foundation for gender equality; co-led the UN CSW delegation with Les Essentielles in 2023 and 2024, making it a funding and representation peer rather than service competitor.
• Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY): Sister Franco-Yukonnais umbrella organization (founded 1982) representing all Francophones in the territory; Les Essentielles sits on the Table de gouvernance alongside AFY, sharing member demographics but operating with a gender-specific mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA): National umbrella organization for Francophone minorities in Canada; comparable as a larger counterpart whose funding routes (e.g., Prix Boral FCFA) have recognized Les Essentielles leadership, indicating overlapping minority-language mandate.
• Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne (AFFC): National network defending the rights of Francophone and Acadian women; Les Essentielles is an active member attending the annual congress and relaying AFFC campaigns locally — broader geographic mandate, overlapping thematic focus.
• Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC): National advocacy organization for Indigenous women pursuing equality, safety, and rights; structurally analogous to Les Essentielles as a women-focused, minority-identity NGO engaging in federal advocacy and UN representation.

Regional players

• Conseil du statut de la femme du Québec (CSF): Québec government agency advising on gender equality and women's status; analogous in feminist advocacy and policy research remit, but operates in a different jurisdiction (Québec vs. Yukon) and is government-funded rather than community-governed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/yukonelles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-essentielles-yukon
• Instagraminstagram.com/yukonelles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Les Essentielles