Hélène Baillargeon
Encyclopedia
Hélène Baillargeon, CM
(August 28, 1916 – September 25, 1997) was a Quebec
singer, actor and folklorist probably best known as the host of the CBC television
show Chez Hélène
from 1959 to 1973.
She was born in Saint-Martin, Quebec
in 1916 and studied singing at Quebec City
and New York
and then at Montreal
with Alfred La Liberté
. She went on to work as a researcher with Marius Barbeau
at the National Museum of Canada in Ottawa
(later the Canadian Museum of Civilization
in Gatineau
). In 1944, Baillargeon married André Côté, a Crown attorney at Montreal. She performed and hosted shows on CBC radio
and television such as Le réveil rural, Songs de chez nous and Cap aux sorciers. Baillargeon was named to the Order of Canada
in 1973. In 1974, she was appointed a Canadian Citizenship Court judge. She also recorded a number of collections of French-Canadian folk songs.
She died in Montreal in 1997.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(August 28, 1916 – September 25, 1997) was a Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
singer, actor and folklorist probably best known as the host of the CBC television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
show Chez Hélène
Chez Hélène
Chez Hélène is a children's television series produced by and broadcast on CBC Television. The 15-minute weekday program was broadcast on the English television network to provide viewers with exposure to the French language....
from 1959 to 1973.
She was born in Saint-Martin, Quebec
Saint-Martin, Quebec
Saint-Martin is a parish municipality in the Municipalité régionale de comté de Beauce-Sartigan in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 2,596 as of 2009. It is named after Martin of Tours.-Sources:**...
in 1916 and studied singing at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and then at Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
with Alfred La Liberté
Alfred La Liberté
Alfred La Liberté was a Canadian composer, pianist, writer on music, and music educator. He was a disciple and close personal friend of Alexander Scriabin. He was also an admirer of Marcel Dupré and Nikolai Medtner. Dupré notably dedicated his Variations, Opus 22 for piano to him and Medtner...
. She went on to work as a researcher with Marius Barbeau
Marius Barbeau
Charles Marius Barbeau, , also known as C. Marius Barbeau, or more commonly simply Marius Barbeau, was a Canadian ethnographer and folklorist who is today considered a founder of Canadian anthropology...
at the National Museum of Canada in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
(later the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
in Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
). In 1944, Baillargeon married André Côté, a Crown attorney at Montreal. She performed and hosted shows on CBC radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
and television such as Le réveil rural, Songs de chez nous and Cap aux sorciers. Baillargeon was named to the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1973. In 1974, she was appointed a Canadian Citizenship Court judge. She also recorded a number of collections of French-Canadian folk songs.
She died in Montreal in 1997.
Selected discography
- 1955: Songs of French Canada with Alan MillsAlan Mills (music)Alan Mills, CM, born Albert Miller was a Canadian folksinger, writer, and actor...
(Folkways RecordsFolkways RecordsFolkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways.-History:...
) - 1956: French Christmas Songs: Chants de Noël (Folkways Records)
- 1956: Chansons d'Acadie (Folks Songs of Acadia) (Folkways Records)
- 1961: Chantons en Français; Vol. 1, Part 1-4: French Songs for Learning French (Folkways Records)
- 1961: Chantons en Français; Vol. 2: French Songs for Learning French (Folkways Records)