I owe a lot to my mother

DAY

Gino Chouinard was born in Woburn, Estrie, south of Lac Mégantic, near the US border with Maine. This proximity allowed him to learn English, as he often had to talk to Americans to help them. Her mother is her biggest fan, who writes her comments regularly. She taught him family values ​​that influenced his life. 

Jean-Pierre Coallier, Yves Corbeil, Claude Boilard and Guy Mongrain marked his life, because it was essential for him to watch their shows without any idea of ​​following in their footsteps.   

Tell us about your parents…

My late father, Julien, was the postman at the post office, while my mother, Rita, who is still alive, was a seamstress, and she even managed the hotel around the corner.

Your father was the citizen liaison officer.

Many of the citizens worked in the Maine, and it was dad who translated their correspondence, the post office was the home base of the village. 

The influence of your parents on your brothers, Daniel, Marc, and on you?

Our parents were generous people, very involved socially and in the affairs of the community. < /p>

A death in the village.

On the occasion of a death, my mother prepared food for the family who was grieving. We were going to visit the family, because mom had made it clear to us that our support was important for this family. 

Your father had crown lands on the shores of Lac Mégantic.

The family still owns these lands and 50 years later, I feel the need to go back there every summer for a few weeks. . These are my roots of life.  

Were you a disciplined student? 

My teachers described me as a weasel because I kept talking. 

Your first job. 

I was a street vendor for La Tribune, except Wednesday and Saturday, because the newspaper was too heavy. In the same summer, I worked for two weeks as a spruce planter in the wood rose sectors before becoming a lifeguard at the municipal swimming pool for the modest sum of $3.17 an hour. 

Sport gave you a work ethic. 

I played tennis, baseball, hockey and many other sports. The discipline of wanting to excel taught me today the importance of being disciplined at work.

Did you have a mare?

The beautiful Mimi was waiting for me every day after school, either I would go for a bike ride or a walk with Mimi. 

You have participated in Elvis contests. 

My first vinyl was Elvis' Golden Hits. At school lipsing contests, I sang All Shook Up and Blue Suede Shoes, by Elvis.

< p>René Simard made you laugh at the movies.

In the film J'ai mon voyage, he refuses to unlock the car doors, much to the chagrin of Dominique Michel, I still laugh about it today. 

You did your secondary school in a boarding school and at high school

I did my secondary 1 and 2 in 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 6? 

At the time, we had the choice to do so in order to improve our knowledge of the different subjects of secondary 5. allowed you to be more involved at school. 

You were president of student life and host on the student radio. 

< p>As president, I organized activities, such as the prom or improv competitions in which I took part. At noon, we had a schedule to host the student radio.

Your highlight as a facilitator.

Once a month as president, I spoke to the students using the school microphone. The messages were transmitted throughout the school.

You did your college studies in Montreal.

I went to the Lassalle Conservatory because I originally wanted to be an actor before I realized I didn't have the talent to be.

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. 

Your French and diction teacher was the legendary Henri Bergeron. 

As incredible as it may seem , I listened every Sunday with my parents Mr. Bergeron presenting Les beaux dimanches on Radio-Canada TV.

Did you realize how privileged you were?

It was unrealistic for me, because the quality of his French and his elocution allowed me to master my French and improve my communication with others.

However, you also liked The Tanners, the < strong>Canadian Evening and wrestling.

Les Tannants, which I listened to with my father , Louis Bilodeau hosted Soirée canadienne and wrestling, On the mattress with Jean-Jacques Fortin and Édouard Carpentier, broadcast on Télé-Métropole.

You lived in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.

< p>It all started in a dilapidated apartment at the corner of Hochelaga and Pie-IX, not to mention rue Jeanne d'Arc, but still near the Olympic Stadium and the restaurant La Belle Province.

Why these focal points?

My roommates and I liked going for lunch or in the evening to eat at La Belle Province, and I liked going to see the Expos in the popular stands. Our favorite hobbies: going out with the girls. 

You have two wonderful children.

The most beautiful moments of our lives, to my wife, Isabelle and I are when we adopted Marilou from China and Nathan from Vietnam. Marilou, 15, is a generous and committed person who teaches skiing in Bromont. I enjoy playing tennis and golf with my son, Nathan, 12.

You describe Isabelle as a unique wife.

The respect and generosity play an important role in the life of my wife, Isabelle, originally from Baie-Comeau. She is a committed wife who is undoubtedly the force that guides my children and me through our various trials in life.