Angle Arsenault

Angèle Arsenault (October 1, 1943 – February 25, 2014) was a Canadian-Acadian singer, songwriter, and media host. Born in Abrams Village, Prince Edward Island, to Acadian parents Arthur and Joséphine, she was the eighth of fourteen children. Her family’s love for music shaped her early life, with frequent kitchen parties where they played instruments and sang traditional songs. By age 14, she played piano and guitar and won a televised singing contest in Charlottetown. Arsenault earned a BA from Université de Moncton in 1965 and an MA from Université Laval in 1968. She taught for a year before moving to Montreal to pursue her music career. She began performing in Moncton in 1963, collecting traditional Acadian songs. Her own compositions emerged in 1973, including Évangéline and Le monde de par chez nous. She hosted TVOntario’s educational program Avec Angèle, which won a Gold Hugo Award in 1974. Her 1977 album Libre became triple platinum, featuring hits like Moi j'mange. In 1979, she won the Felix Award for best-selling album in Quebec and performed at Place des Arts. She recorded several albums, including Y'a une étoile pour vous (1979) and Transparente (1994), and collaborated on projects addressing social issues. Arsenault received numerous honors: an honorary doctorate from the University of Prince Edward Island (1999), the Order of Canada (2003), and Woman of the Year from Zonta International (2000). She continued performing until her death from cancer on February 25, 2014, at age 70 in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec. Her discography spans from Première ...