Officer of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2012-05-24
Invested on: 2012-09-28
Jean Bissonnette is a pioneer and visionary in the television and entertainment industries. A director for nearly 35 years with Radio-Canada, he is considered the father of French-Canadian variety television shows, and his career is filled with flagship programs, including "Les Couche-tard," "Moi et l'autre" and "Bye Bye." He later co-founded Productions Avanti Ciné Vidéo, and his name is associated with such unforgettable programs as "La petite vie" and "Un gars, une fille," which have been sold around the world. He has also produced and directed a number of shows for singers and humorists, and helped a great many artists in the early stages of their career.