Céline Dion, Compagne des arts et des lettres du Québec

It’s been more than 35 years since Céline Dion could go Incognito. What started as a dream became a reality through her tireless work. A heart of gold and iron discipline contributed to her planetary success. Her voice covers a five-octave range, and she sings to almost every rhythm and in some ten languages, moving fluidly from pop to jazz, R&B to opera. Her voice, her sensibility, and her energy have lent themselves magnificently to great songwriters, including Compagnons Luc Plamondon, Jean-Pierre Ferland, and Leonard Cohen, and Compagne Marie Laberge.

Even when Céline Dion left Québec, it never left her. Her voice took her to the four corners of the world. She served as an ambassador of creativity by drawing on the know-how of artists, designers, and other creators to build her spectacular shows.

Shattering sales records for recordings, shows, and tours, Céline Dion has collected a multitude of prestigious prizes, from the Félix to the Grammy awards, the Oscars to the World Music Awards. But her greatest feat is having stayed true to herself through all of her transformations.

In exchange for the joy, dreams, emotion, and incredible pride she has spread, she has received the eternal love of audiences wooed by her talent, generosity, and simplicity. On ne change pas. People don’t change. This is undoubtedly true, because the song says so, something Céline Dion exemplifies more than anyone.

About the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec

The Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec is a distinction bestowed by CALQ honouring those individuals who have played a prominent role in Québec's artistic development.

The CALQ would like to thanks its partners, the Caisse de la Culture and the newspaper Le Devoir.

List of recipients