Canadian literature professor, author and publisher, Annette Saint-Pierre has been a major force in the promotion of French-Canadian culture and in particular, the Franco-Manitoban experience.
Born in Saint-Germain de Kamouraska, Quebec, Annette Saint-Pierre did her primary studies at the Saint-Joseph convent and her high school studies at Scolasticat Saint--Joseph in Saint-Hyacinthe, where she obtained her teaching certificate in 1950. She then continued her studies at the University of Ottawa where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1961, a master's degree in 1971 for her thesis entitled Gabrielle Roy sous le signe du rêve, and a doctoral degree in 1979 for Le Théâtre au Manitoba français.
From 1950 to 1970, apart from the two years spent in Saint-Hyacinthe, Ms. Saint-Pierre taught elementary and high school in Manitoba. In 1970, she became a professor of Canadian literature at the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, where she initiated the first Canadian literature university course in Western Canada. In 1984, six Canadian universities offered such courses.
Ms. Saint-Pierre's involvement was not limited to teaching. In 1978, she was one of the founding members of the Centre d'études franco-canadiennes de l'Ouest. In 1984, she sat on the board of directors for the Regroupement des centres d'études au Canada and on the board of directors for the Winnipeg Library Board. She was also a member of the Académie universelle de Lausanne and of the Alliance française du Manitoba. During that same year, she was also the first recipient of a new award from the Alliance française du Canada.
Annette Saint-Pierre is also renowned in the publishing field. Already a prolific author-she has more than eight publications to her name with her most recent publication in 1997-the aspect that has kept most of our attention is the active role she played in the founding of the first two Franco-Manitoban publishing houses. In 1974, she was one of the founding members of Éditions du Blé, and in 1979, she and Georges Damphousse founded Éditions des Plaines. The avowed mission of this publishing house was to promote French writing in Western Canada by publishing works of fiction, history, biographies, theatre, essays and children's literature. Ten years after its establishment, this publishing company had over 100 titles in its catalogue.
Annette Saint-Pierre's achievements follow a clearly established theme. Throughout her academic activities, her involvement in the Franco-Manitoban culture, her literary and historic work, and finally through the establishment of the Éditions du Blé and Éditions des Plaines publishing houses, she has strived to arouse the collective memory in Manitoba. Annette Saint-Pierre has made her Franco-Manitoban voice heard. She has also actively promoted francophone culture in Manitoba.
Selected Works by Annette Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre, Annette. -- De fil en aiguille au Manitoba. -- Saint-Boniface, Man.: Éditions des Plaines, 1995. -- 376 p.
Saint-Pierre, Annette. -- Faut placer le père. -- Saint-Boniface, Man.: Éditions des Plaines, 1997. -- 345 p.
Saint-Pierre, Annette. -- Gabrielle Roy : sous le signe de rêve. -- Saint-Boniface, Man.: Éditions du Blé, 1975. -- 137 p.
Saint-Pierre, Annette. -- Le Théâtre au Manitoba français. -- Ottawa: University of Ottawa. -- Doctoral thesis. -- University of Ottawa, 1979.
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