Quebecor today honours two outstanding Québec artists at a Tribute Evening attended by 350 personalities from the cultural and business communities. In its sixth year, the Quebecor Prize is being awarded to actor Andrée Lachapelle and singer Patsy Gallant in recognition of their brilliant careers. The prize is accompanied by a $50,000 purse.

Awarding the Quebecor Prize is in keeping with the Corporation’s long tradition of supporting the development and dissemination of Québec culture.

We must support the next generation of artists in order to keep our culture vibrant but it is equally important to recognize the past contributions made by great creative talents. The Quebecor Prize is a way to thank the major figures who have left their mark on successive generations and will remain a source of inspiration for future generations.

Andrée Lachapelle

Known as an accomplished actor and a woman with heart, Andrée Lachapelle has been a shining fixture in the firmament of Québec theatre, television and cinema for more than 60 years. After studying at the Institut pédagogique and Studio 15 under Gérard Vléminckx, she made her stage debut with the Trait d’union theatre company, performing with Henri Norbert, and then joined celebrated Les Compagnons de Saint-Laurent company. She performed in plays ranging from Chekhov and Tennessee Williams to Marcel Dubé, Jean-Claude Lauzon and Denis Arcand, working with the greatest Québec directors and producers. Andrée Lachapelle also devoted herself to promoting the French language and to many humanitarian causes, including art in prison and Amnesty International. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec.

Patsy Gallant

Patsy Gallant is a singer of Acadian origin who began performing at the age of 4 as part of The Gallant Sisters. With her distinctive voice and charismatic personality, she became a star of Quebec song and television. She recorded her first album in 1967, at the age of 19, and soon became a regular on several television programs. In the early 1970s, she began singing in English and had a number of international hits, including the disco track “From New York to L.A.,” a reworking of the Gilles Vigneault song “Mon Pays.” On the stage, she was unforgettable as Stella Spotlight in the rock opera Starmania, directed by Lewis Furey, during its Paris run from 1993 to 2001. With her talent and eclectic mix of musical influences, Patsy Gallant remains to this day an extraordinary singer and performer who resonates with many audiences.

“We are very pleased to pay tribute to the careers of Andrée Lachapelle and Patsy Gallant today,” said Mr. Péladeau. “Each in her chosen field was able to express herself and touch many thousands of people with her talent, passion and work ethic. They have had a hand in shaping Québec’s identity and culture, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.”

Over the years, Quebecor has honoured many Québec cultural figures, including André Brassard, Renée Claude, Marcel Dubé, Claude Gauthier, Raymond Lévesque, Monique Leyrac, Janine Sutto, Armand Vaillancourt and Gilles Vigneault.