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Edition 45 (2019) Winner
Dominique Demers
ドミニク・デメール
Dominique Demers
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1956-11-23 （Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada）
- Nationality
- Canada
- Languages
- French, English
- Residence History
- Hawkesbury, Ontario (birthplace) → Montreal (moved at age 17; current residence) → Laurentides (writing retreats)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Screenwriter, Journalist, Teacher, TV presenter, Children's literature researcher
- Active Years
- 1979-
- Affiliations
- Collège Charles-Lemoyne (teacher), L'actualité (contributor), Châtelaine (contributor), Le Devoir (contributor), Université de Sherbrooke (Ambassador)
- Nominations
- Governor General's Award nominee (1992), Governor General's Award nominee (1993), Governor General's Award nominee (1997)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill University | — | Children's Literature | 学士号 | — | Canada |
| Université du Québec | — | Children's Literature | 修士号 | — | Canada |
| Université de Sherbrooke | — | Children's Literature | 博士号 | — | Canada |
| Université de Montréal | — | Children and media studies | — | — | Canada |
McGill University
Children's Literature
Degree:
学士号
Country:
Canada
Studied children's literature
Université du Québec
Children's Literature
Degree:
修士号
Country:
Canada
Master's degree in children's literature
Université de Sherbrooke
Children's Literature
Degree:
博士号
Country:
Canada
Doctorate in children's literature
Université de Montréal
Children and media studies
Country:
Canada
Contributed to postdoctoral study on children and media
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Judith-Jasmin Award | — | — | — | 受賞 |
| 2004 | Order of Canada | — | — | Office of the Secretary to the Governor General | 受章 |
| 2003 | UQAM Faculty of Letters and Communication honour | — | — | Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) | 受賞 |
| 1997 | Ambassador appointment, Université de Sherbrooke | — | — | Université de Sherbrooke | 任命 |
Judith-Jasmin Award
1987
Result:
受賞
Order of Canada
2004
Organization:
Office of the Secretary to the Governor General
Result:
受章
UQAM Faculty of Letters and Communication honour
2003
Organization:
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Result:
受賞
Ambassador appointment, Université de Sherbrooke
1997
Organization:
Université de Sherbrooke
Result:
任命
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Dominique Picotée
1991 Children's novelA children's novel based on her three children (Simon, Alexis, Marie); the first in the 'Alexis' series.
familygrowing upchild's perspective
La Nouvelle Maîtresse (The New Teacher)
Children's novelA work in the Mlle Charlotte series centering on a new teacher; explores growth and community through teacher-student interactions.
educationcommunitygrowth
Adaptations
- [Film] La mystérieuse mademoiselle C. (The Mysterious Miss C.) / Richard Ciupka (2002)
La Mystérieuse Bibliothécaire (The Mysterious Librarian)
Children's novelSet in a library, the story features a mysterious librarian and her interactions with children, highlighting the importance of books and imagination.
librariesbooks and imaginationmystery
Adaptations
- [Film] La mystérieuse mademoiselle C. (The Mysterious Miss C.) / Richard Ciupka (2002)
Une bien curieuse factrice
Children's novelA humorous story about an inquisitive mail carrier, written with warmth and humour.
everyday humourcommunity
Adaptations
- [Film] L'incomparable mademoiselle C. (The Incomparable Miss C.) (2004)
Marie-Tempête
Adult novelAn adult novel addressing family and personal conflicts; adapted into the television movie 'Un hiver de tourmente' in 1998.
familyconflictrenewal
Adaptations
- [Television movie] Un hiver de tourmente (A Winter of Turmoil) / Bernard Favre (1998)
Maïna
Adult novelA novel exploring Indigenous culture and encounters; adapted into a film released in 2013.
Indigenous culturesencounteridentity
Adaptations
- [Film] Maïna (2013)
Today, Maybe
Illustrated children's bookA gentle picture book addressing children's anxieties and hopes; known in English as 'Today, Maybe'.
anxiety and hopechildren's emotions
Translations
- English translation: Today, Maybe
Bibliography
- Pétunia princesse des pets
- Lustucru le loup qui pue
- Gratien Gratton prince de la gratouille
- Vieux Thomas et la petite fée
- Annabel et la bête
- L'oiseau des sables
- Today, Maybe
- Le Noël du petit Gnouf
- Le petit Gnouf et la magie de l'hiver
- La vérité sur les vraies princesses
- La pire journée de Papi
- Perline Pompette
- Le Zloukch
- Zachary et son Zloukch
- Le Gloubilouache
- Les Flipattes conteurs
- Le Cornichonnet gaffeur
- Le secret de Petit Poilu
- Petit Poilu chez les pioufs
- Tous les soirs du monde
- Boucle d'Or et the Three Bears
- La plus belle histoire d'amour
- Oupilaille et le poil de dragon
- Oupilaille et le vélo rouge
- Le monde des GRANDS
- GÉANT, You Don't Scare Me!
- Le clip de Cendrillon
- Le secret des dragons
- Le chien secret de Poucet
- Poucet, le coeur en miettes
- Valentine picotée
- Toto la brute
- Marie la chipie
- Roméo Lebeau
- Léon Maigrichon
- Alexa Gougougaga
- Macaroni en folie
- La Nouvelle Maîtresse
- La Mystérieuse Bibliothécaire
- Une bien curieuse factrice
- Une drôle de ministre
- L'Étonnante Concierge
- La Fabuleuse Entraîneuse
- Une gouvernante épatante
- L'élu
- Les trois voeux
- La pierre bleue
- Un hiver de tourmente
- Les grands sapins ne meurent pas
- Ils dansent dans la tempête
- Pour rallumer les étoiles
- Ta voix dans la nuit
- L'appel des loups
- Au pays de Natak
- Là où la mer commence
- Maïna
- Le Pari
- Au bonheur de lire
- Marie-Tempête
Adaptations
- Un hiver de tourmente (TV movie, 1998)
- La mystérieuse mademoiselle C. (film, 2002)
- Dominique raconte... (TV series, 2003-2006)
- L'incomparable mademoiselle C. (film, 2004)
- Maïna (film, 2013)
Translations of Works
- Aujourd'hui peut-être — English translation: Today, Maybe
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- accessible conversational stylewarm, humorous toneconcise, child-friendly prose
- Recurring Motifs
- teacher-student relationshipsbooks and librariesfamily and communitychildren's imagination and growth
Legacy
Dominique Demers is a prominent French-Canadian children's author best known for the Mlle Charlotte series. Her prolific output and multiple film/TV adaptations have made her an influential figure in children's literature and cultural outreach (including recognition such as the Order of Canada).
Archives
- Related archives at Université de Sherbrooke (possible holdings)
In Popular Culture
- Film adaptations of the Mlle Charlotte series (2002, 2004)
- Popularity from the TV program 'Dominique raconte...' which featured children's readings
Trivia
- Published her first children's novel 'Dominique Picotée' in 1991 (start of the Alexis series)
- Worked for 15 years as a journalist and won the Judith-Jasmin Award in 1987
- Awarded the Order of Canada in 2004
- On the TV program 'Dominique raconte...' she read approximately 150 books to young viewers
- Several works have been adapted for film and television, including 'La mystérieuse mademoiselle C.'