Ottawa, June 26, 2001

The National Archives of Canada officially launched its new Web site or “virtual exhibition” on noted Québécois playwright, director and actor Gratien Gélinas.

The Gélinas Web site contains some 280 documents from Gélinas’ own personal archives, now held at the National Archives of Canada. These include texts, posters, drawings, photographs, stage designs, films, and audio recordings.

Gratien Gélinas was a pioneer in the history of theatre and the arts in Quebec and French Canada. His contributions to modern culture have been etched forever into the history of Canada. Some of his best-known plays include Bousille et les justes, Hier, les enfants dansaient, and La passion de Narcisse Mondoux. The 1953 film Tit-Coq, based on Gélinas’ 1948 play of the same name, is considered a classic in the history of French-Canadian cinema.

For further information, please contact:
Louisa Coates
Communications and Public Programs Division
National Archives of Canada
Telephone: (613) 992-9361 / cell. 295-5516
Fax: (613) 995-0919
E-mail: media@lac-bac.gc.ca