Aline Chrétien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aline Chrétien
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Chrétien at the 300th anniversary of Saint Petersburg celebrations in May 2003
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| Born | May 14, 1936 Saint-Boniface-de-Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada
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| Died | September 12, 2020 (aged 84) Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Secretary |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 (including France Chrétien Desmarais) |
Aline Chrétien (born Chaîné; May 14, 1936 – September 12, 2020) was a Canadian who was married to Jean Chrétien, who became Canada's 20th Prime Minister. She also worked as a secretary, managed payroll, and did some modeling. Later in her life, she became a skilled pianist after studying at The Royal Conservatory of Music.
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Early Life and Family
Aline Chaîné was born on May 14, 1936, in Shawinigan, Quebec. She was the oldest child of Yvonne and Albert Chaîné. Her mother worked as a hairdresser, and her father worked at a power plant.
Aline left school when she was 16. She never went to university but took special courses by mail while working as a secretary. She also managed payroll for a company and modeled clothes for local stores.
Marriage and Languages
Aline married a lawyer named Jean Chrétien on September 10, 1957. They had two sons, Hubert and Michel (who was adopted), and one daughter, France Chrétien Desmarais.
After her husband was elected to Parliament, Aline taught herself several languages. She learned English, Italian, and Spanish. She became fluent in these languages, in addition to her first language, French.
Life as the Prime Minister's Spouse
Jean Chrétien became the Prime Minister of Canada. Aline Chrétien was often seen as a very important advisor to him. Many people believed she had a lot of influence behind the scenes.
A Brave Moment
On November 5, 1995, a person broke into the Prime Minister's home at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Ontario. Aline Chrétien woke up next to her sleeping husband. She bravely faced the intruder at their bedroom door. When she saw he had a large knife, she quickly slammed the door shut and locked it. Then, she woke up her husband.
A Key Advisor
Jean Chrétien often asked his wife for her thoughts and advice. Maclean's magazine, a Canadian news magazine, once said she was his most important advisor. They even said she "shares the seat of power" with him.
Jean Chrétien often joked about how much he relied on his wife. He once said that Canada was run by women because the Queen, the Governor General, and the Chief Justice of Canada were all women, and Aline Chrétien was guiding the Prime Minister. He would often joke that he didn't know when the next election would be because he hadn't asked Aline to set the date yet!
Public Role
As the Prime Minister's spouse, Aline Chrétien took part in important public events. For example, in 1999, she attended a memorial for a victim of a school shooting at W. R. Myers High School. She was there with other important leaders like Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and Attorney General of Canada Anne McLellan.
In 2003, she received her first special degree, called an honorary degree, from Laurentian University.
Later Years and Legacy
Aline Chrétien was involved in many charity groups starting in 1963, when her husband was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada. She loved languages, but she also developed a passion for music.
Music and Education
In her 50s, she started taking piano lessons. She became a strong supporter of The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Her husband, Jean Chrétien, even bought her a grand piano. He bought it with money he received after winning a libel case against The Globe and Mail newspaper.
On September 22, 2010, Aline Chrétien was named the very first chancellor of Laurentian University. This university is a bilingual school in Sudbury, Ontario.
Final Years
Aline Chrétien later developed Alzheimer's disease. She passed away on September 12, 2020, at her home near Shawinigan. She was 84 years old. She had celebrated her 63rd wedding anniversary just two days before she died.
See also
