Gino Chouinard was born in Woburn, Estrie, south of Lac Mégantic near the US-Maine border. This closeness allowed him to learn English, as he often had to speak to Americans to help them. Her mother is her biggest fan, who regularly writes her comments. She taught him family values that influenced his life.
Jean-Pierre Coallier, Yves Corbeil, Claude Boilard and Guy Mongrain left their mark on his life because it was essential for him to see their shows without even thinking of following in their footsteps.
Tell us about your parents…
My late father Julien was a postman at the post office, my mother Rita, who is still alive, was a seamstress and even ran the hotel on the corner.
Her father was the Citizen Liaison Officer.
Many of the townsfolk worked in Maine, and it was Dad who translated their correspondence since the post office was the base of the village.
The influence of your parents on your brothers Daniel, Marc and on you?
Our parents were generous people who were very involved in social and community affairs.
A death in the village.
On the occasion of a death, my mother prepared food for the grieving family. We wanted to visit the family because mom made it clear to us that our support for this family is important.
Her father had crown lands on the shores of Lac Mégantic.
The lands are still in the family and 50 years later I feel the need to return for a few weeks every summer. These are my roots of life.
Were you a disciplined student?
My teachers called me a weasel because I was always talking.
your first job
I was a street vendor for La Tribune except on Wednesdays and Saturdays because the paper was too heavy. That same summer I worked for two weeks as a spruce planter in the woodrose sector before becoming a lifeguard at the municipal swimming pool for the modest sum of $3.17 an hour.
Sport has given you a work ethic.
I played tennis, baseball, hockey and many other sports. The discipline of wanting to excel taught me today how important it is to be disciplined at work.
did you have a mare?
Beautiful Mimi was waiting for me every day after school, either I would ride my bike or go for a walk with Mimi.
They took part in Elvis competitions.
My first record was Elvis’ Golden Hits. I sang Elvis’ All Shook Up and Blue Suede Shoes in lipsing competitions at school.
René Simard made you laugh in the cinema.
In the film I have my trip, he refuses to unlock the car doors, much to Dominique Michel’s chagrin, I still laugh about it to this day.
You did your high school in a boarding school and at the Polyvalente
I did my secondary education 1 and 2 at a boarding school in Sherbrooke, the Collège du Mont-Sainte-Anne, before studying at the Polyvalente Montignac in Lac-Mégantic.
Why did you do secondary school 6?
At that time we had the choice to do this to improve our knowledge of the different subjects of secondary school 5. This enabled me to get more involved in school.
You were president of student life and presenter on student radio.
As President, I organized activities like the prom or improv contests that I participated in. At noon we had a schedule to animate student radio.
Your highlight as an animator.
As President, I spoke to the students over the school microphone once a month. The messages were conveyed throughout the school.
You completed your college studies in Montreal.
I went to the Lassalle Conservatory because I originally wanted to be an actor before realizing I didn’t have the talent.
There’s no business like show business
My high school teacher was avant-garde, that’s the message he wrote to me in my graduation book.
Her French and diction teacher was the legendary Henri Bergeron.
Incredible as it may seem, every Sunday I would listen to Mr. Bergeron present Les beaux dimanches on Radio-Canada TV with my parents.
Did you know how privileged you were?
This was unrealistic for me because the quality of his French and his diction allowed me to master my French and improve my communication with others.
However, they also loved The tannersThere Canadian evening and fight.
Les Tannants, which I listened to with my father, Louis Bilodeau animated the Canadian evening and the fight, On the mattress with Jean-Jacques Fortin and Édouard Carpentier, broadcast on Télé-Métropole.
You lived in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.
It all started in a shabby apartment on the corner of Hochelaga and Pie-IX, not forgetting Rue Jeanne d’Arc, but still close to the Olympic Stadium and La Belle Province restaurant.
Why this focus?
My roommates and I enjoyed going to La Belle Province for lunch and dinner, and I enjoyed attending the expos at the popular booths. Our favorite hobbies: going out with the girls.
They have two wonderful children.
The greatest moments in our lives for my wife Isabelle and I were adopting Marilou, originally from China, and Nathan, originally from Vietnam. Marilou, 15, is a generous and dedicated individual who teaches skiing in Bromont. I enjoy playing tennis and golf with my son Nathan, 12 years old.
You describe Isabelle as a unique wife.
Respect and generosity play an important role in the life of my wife Isabelle, originally from Baie-Comeau. She is a dedicated wife who is undoubtedly the strength to guide my children and I through our various trials in life.
