Janette Bertrand

2000 Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Screens and Voices (formerly Broadcasting and Film))

Journalist, radio and television scriptwriter, interviewer and host, actor and playwright: the versatility of this beloved Quebec icon over an exceptional broadcasting career spanning nearly 50 years is surpassed only by her tremendous abilities as a great communicator, a woman of great passion, compassion and humanity.

Born in Montreal in 1925, Janette Bertrand began her illustrious career as a columnist for the Petit Journal de Montréal. As the advice columnist of "Courrier du cur" she inspired the Robert Charlebois song Madame Bertrand. After 17 years, she moved on to radio where she continued to amass growing legions of fans as host of Déjeuner en musique for Radio-Canada and Mon mari et nous for CKAC. Having conquered print and radio, Madame Bertrand turned her impressive talents to television, writing and performing in a litany of popular television soaps and quiz shows including Toi et Moi, Adam et Ève, Comment Pourquoi, Janette veut savoir, Quelle famille! and Grand-papa.

As host of several television series, Madame Bertrand never shied away from difficult issues: with compassion and insight, she covered such controversial topics as homosexuality, prostitution, violence against women, cancer and death.

Janette Bertrand is also an accomplished stage and screen writer. She has three stage plays to her credit: Moi Tarzan, toi Jane; Dis-moi-le si je dérange, and Le choix, which is currently touring Quebec. Her first feature film screenplay, Le party de famille, is scheduled to begin production next February.

Her numerous awards and honours include: the Order of Merit presented by the Canadian Association of Radio Broadcasters; Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Québec; a dozen Gemini Awards; named Woman of the Century by Salon de la Femme; a Gemini Award for Lifetime Achievement; and a Dodi-Robb Award.