Yvon H. Lefebvre was born November 3, 1920 in Legal, Alberta, was a decorated pilot during the Second World War and an engineering graduate from the University of Alberta. He was a Calgary resident since 1955, married to Marion and father of eight children. He was chair of the Association albertaine des parents francophones and president of the Association of Interpreters and Translators of Canada. Yvon Lefebvre died on February 20, 2000.

In 1981 Yvon H. Lefebvre started a process to have his trial for a traffic infraction held in French (without the aid of an interpreter) and, at the same time, have French recognized as an official language in the provincial courts and by the Government of Alberta. In 1983, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and, in 1986, the Court of Appeal of Alberta rejected his request.