Hélène Baillargeon CM (1916–1997) was a Canadian singer, actor, and folklorist probably best known as the host of the CBC Television show Chez Hélène from 1959 to 1973.
Hélène Baillargeon | |
|---|---|
 Baillargeon in 1940 | |
| Born | Hélène Marie Baillargeon 28 August 1916 Saint-Martin, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | 25 September 1997 (aged 81) |
| Other names | Hélène Marie Baillargeon-Côté |
| Occupations |
|
| Notable credit | Chez Hélène (1959–1973) |
| Spouse |
André Côté (m. 1944) |
She was born in Saint-Martin, Quebec, on 28 August 1916 and studied singing in Quebec City and New York City and then in Montreal with Alfred La Liberté.[1] She went on to work as a researcher with Marius Barbeau[1][2] at the National Museum of Canada in Ottawa (later the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau).[citation needed] In 1944, Baillargeon married André Côté, a Crown attorney in Montreal.[1]
She performed and hosted shows on CBC Radio and Television such as Le réveil rural (1951–1955), Songs de chez nous (1952–1955), and Cap aux sorciers (1955–1958).[1] Baillargeon was named to the Order of Canada in 1973.[1] In 1974, she was appointed a Canadian citizenship court judge.[1] She also recorded a number of collections of French-Canadian folk songs.
She died in Montreal on 25 September 1997.[1]
Selected discography edit
- 1955: Songs of French Canada with Alan Mills (Folkways Records)
- 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)
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g King, Betty Nygaard; Panneton, Hélène (2013) [2007]. "Hélène Baillargeon". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Toronto: Historica Canada. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Baillargeon, Hélène, 1916–1997" (finding aid). Montreal: University of Montreal. 25 January 2001. Archived from the original on 19 February 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2021.