Suzanne Rochon-Burnett
Encyclopedia
Suzanne Rochon-Burnett, CM
, O.Ont
(March 10, 1935 – March 4, 2006) was a Canadian
Métis
business woman.
, Quebec
, she was the first aboriginal person in Canada to own and operate a private commercial radio station, Welland, Ontario
's SPIRIT 91.7 (now CIXL-FM
).
In 1965, she married Gordon W. Burnett. They had one child, Michèle-Élise.
She was among the first to support Native artists in Ontario, including David General, Vince Bomberry, Shirley Cheechoo and Carl Beam.
She established a special policy at TVOntario
for Aboriginal programming, and set up a Native scholarship at Brock University
in St. Catharines.
. She was also awarded the Order of Ontario
. In 2006, she was inducted into the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business's Hall of Fame.
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...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(March 10, 1935 – March 4, 2006) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
business woman.
Biography
Born in Sainte-AdèleSainte-Adèle, Quebec
Sainte-Adèle is a municipality in Quebec, Canada, and is part of the Les Pays-d'en-Haut Regional County Municipality. It lies on the Route 117 about north-west of Montreal. Its tourism-based economy centres on its skiing and hotel industry...
, 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....
, she was the first aboriginal person in Canada to own and operate a private commercial radio station, Welland, Ontario
Welland, Ontario
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...
's SPIRIT 91.7 (now CIXL-FM
CIXL-FM
CIXL-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting in Welland, Ontario. It uses the on-air brand name Giant FM, and broadcasts a classic rock format at 91.7 on the FM dial...
).
In 1965, she married Gordon W. Burnett. They had one child, Michèle-Élise.
Lifetime achievements
Rochon-Burnett has been involved in several communication and social causes. She became an ambassador for French music from Quebec and France when Chanson à la française was broadcast on 21 stations in Ontario in the late 1970s after years of experience in the media all over the world. Songwriters were charmed by her unique style and elegance when she interviewed them in English.She was among the first to support Native artists in Ontario, including David General, Vince Bomberry, Shirley Cheechoo and Carl Beam.
She established a special policy at TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
for Aboriginal programming, and set up a Native scholarship at Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
in St. Catharines.
Awards and honours
In 2002, she was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder 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...
. She was also awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. In 2006, she was inducted into the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business's Hall of Fame.