THE FRENCH- CANADIAN YUKON COMMUNITY
Early in the beginning of the century, French-Canadians gathered in groups in certain geographical areas and organized together, not only in festivals, and celebrations but also in business deals, and they also married from this group.
The largest parts of the Dominion belonged to French-Canadians. The two areas where the French-Canadians were the most numerous were called “Petit Paris” (Little Paris) and “Le Petit Quebec” (Little Quebec). The greatest majority of them belonged to the “Lyonnais Syndicate of the Klondike,” a mining exploitation society founded in 1899 by Louis Paillard; he was originally from France.
The Francophone society was, in fact, polarized in the south-east of Dawson City along the Dominion Creek. The majority of Franco-Yukoners worked for the big mining society which had dredges near the villages of Hunter and Branville. In 1915, the Canadian Mining Co. hired around thirty Franco-phones. Until the 1930’s the Yukon Gold Co. employed as many, which was a considerable number.
Ref. Empreinte, vol.11, pages 81-82
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