RAF Gala
Together for the change
During this gala, RAF will celebrate its 47 finalists divided in nine categories; this year, two new categories were created, including one that highlights the support of black men over black women.
From the COVID-19 pandemic to the murder of the Afro-american, George Floyd, the finalists of the 12th edition of the RAF Gala of Excellence stand out as committed agents of change who are contributing to the #BLACKLIVESMATTER movement in Canada, and who have so clearly demonstrated the mettle of African-Canadian Francophone girls and women.
For the first time in its history, RAF will recognize the excellence of Black Francophone and francophile girls and women right across the country, and will do so in Canada’s two official languages. It has been possible thanks to the Bilingual Ottawa program, managed by ACFO Ottawa and funded by the Government of Canada, and La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins. Dènik Dorval, Bilingual Ottawa Program’s Project Manager, is delighted with the tremendous number of finalists representing Canada’s Black Francophone community, and very much looking forward to a dazzling evening!
List of laureates of the 12th edition of
RAF Gala
List of laureates of the 2020 Gala
Succession of the year
category presented by Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
Joëlle Kabisoso, Toronto, ON
Entrepreneurship
category presented by Kimdja, conception et production d’événements :
Rose Napoléon, Montréal, QC
Politics and social justice
category presented by Votre Notaire Véronique Semexant
Olive Kamanyana, Gatineau, QC
Community engagement
category presented by SD Médias Inc.
Valérie Assoi, Ottawa, ON
Ally of women
Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, Montréal, QC ; special thank you to Greg
Fergus, Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer
Sport, health and wellness
category presented by par RiNude Resale
Dania Versailles, Ottawa, ON
Education
category presented by La Cité
Guédeline Desrosiers, Montréal, QC
Arts, media and culture
category presented by Avec Grace, agence de marketing digital :
Omayra Issa, Saskatoon, SK
Icon of the year
Yardly Kavanagh, Montréal, QC ; special thank you to Marie-France
Lalonde, Member of Parliament for Orléans
Public Award
Justine Bahita Tshula, Ottawa, ON
Meet our previous
Winners, Speakers and Sponsors
Previous Sponsors
2012 : Ginette Gratton
2009 : Marlène Chouloute
2018 : No sponsor
2017 : Mireille Apollon
2012 : Dominique Dennery
2013 : Valérie Assoi
2014 : Marie- Éline Lebon
2009 : Myrtha Lapierre
Previous Speakers
2008 : Jocelyne Constant
2007 : Rachel Décoste
2009 : Marlène Chouloute
2010 : Darlène Lozis
2011 : Mireille Apollon
2012 : No speaker
2013 : Valérie Assoi
Previous Emcee
2018 : Barbara Laurenstien
2012 : Ginette Gratton
2013 : Bernadette Séverin
2007-2011 : Sabine Daniel
Previous recipients
2018
Honorary award: Violène Gabriel
New generation award: Koultoumy Diallo
Education award: Dr. Agnès Berthelot-Raffard
Arts, Media & Culture award: Stéphan Soumah
Community involvement award: Félicité Murangira
Entrepreneurship award: Djénane L. Najmanovich
Woman of gold award: Édith Francoeur
Diamond award: Jocelyne Constant
2017
Diamond award: Dominique Donnery
Rose award: Emily Mills
Education star award: Micheca Thomas
Education award: Guerda Chervin Icart
Art, Culture and Design star award: Gasline Teresa Deslouches
Entrepreneurship and Business star award: Gwen Madiba
Community Involvement star award: Aìchatou Touré
2016
No gala
2015
No gala
2014
Diamond award: Yvette-Yende Ashiri
Senior category – Star award: Fulvie Bellevue
Adult category – Star award: Ketcia Dorsainville-Peters
Youth category – Star award: Melissa Rose Charles
2013
Under 30 star award: Daphne Alls
Adult age 30 to 64 star award: Katiana Blain
Senior category star award: Animatou Diaolo
Star award: Alexandra Samson
Diamond award: aucun récipiendaire
2012
Under 30 star award: Christina Georges
Adult age 30 to 64 star award: Sarah Onyango
Francophile award: Brigitte Jackson
Senior over 65 star award: Cynthia Blais
Diamond award: Farat Surin
2011
No gala
2010
Oni – Ingrid Joseph
Darlène Lozis
Ferline Regis
Loïssa Georges
Diamond award: Maryse Birmingham
2009
Michelle Jean-Baptiste
Jasmine Princessivil
Marceline Olivier
Edline Etienne
Diamond award: Renette Barbier
2008
Marlène Chouloutte
meet our
Partners

Nouvelle scène Gilles Desjardins
La nouvelle scène Gilles Desjardins, also known as the Centre de théâtre francophone d’Ottawa, is Ottawa’s french theatre centre, located at 333 King Edward. This theatre arts production and dissemination centre features a wide ranging program lineup. its four resident companies (Théâtre du Trillium, Théâtre de la Vieille 17, Vox Théâtre, and Théâtre la Catapulte) present a musical series and several stage shows (theatre, music, dance, performance) by other companies in the Ottawa and Gatineau area, and from other parts of the country and the world. The new theatre has two studios with seating for 173 and 80, respectively, a rehearsal studio, a bar/terrace with seating for 200 for special events and an indoor courtyard.

Ottawa Bilingue
ACFO Ottawa has set up a new micro-grant program to support Ottawa’s community, non-profit organizations and businesses in the creation of new bilingualism projects. This grant program subsidizes two types of initiatives: propulsion and activation projects. This program is funded by the Government of Canada.