Few people get to celebrate a century of life, let alone a century of shaping a nation’s culture. Janette Bertrand, the Quebec journalist and television pioneer, turned 100 in March 2025, marking a career that used the small screen to tackle topics many wouldn’t touch.

4 related posts

Born: March 25, 1925 ·
Age in 2025: 100 years old ·
Birthplace: Montréal, Québec, Canada ·
Known for: Journalist, actress, educator, writer ·
Notable work: Avec un grand A (1986) ·
Honors: Companion of the Order of Canada (CC), Knight of the National Order of Quebec (CQ)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born March 25, 1925 in Montréal (Wikipedia)
  • Quebec journalist, actress, educator, writer (Wikipedia)
  • Created and hosted Avec un grand A (1986) (Place des Arts)
  • Recipient of Order of Canada and National Order of Quebec (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth not publicly documented
  • Details about husband and children remain private
  • Current residence not confirmed in public records
3Timeline signal
  • 1925: Born in Montréal
  • 1940s: Began radio and TV career
  • 1986: Launched Avec un grand A
  • 2025: Celebrated 100th birthday
4What’s next
  • Continued recognition of her legacy in Quebec media
  • Potential new editions of her books
  • Ongoing influence on Canadian television programming

Seven key facts, one pattern: Janette Bertrand’s life is a masterclass in using media for social change, not just entertainment.

Label Value
Full name Janette Bertrand
Date of birth March 25, 1925
Place of birth Montréal, Québec, Canada
Occupation Journalist, actress, educator, writer
Years active 1940s–present
Notable work Avec un grand A (1986)
Honors Companion of the Order of Canada, Knight of the National Order of Quebec

The implication: Bertrand didn’t just appear on screen—she built the shows that defined Quebec’s cultural identity in the mid-20th century.

Who is Janette Bertrand?

Early life and education

  • Born March 25, 1925 in Montréal, Québec (Wikipedia)
  • Studied journalism at the Université de Montréal (Wikipedia)
  • Began her career at Le Petit Journal, working there for 16 years (Wikipedia)

Bertrand’s early life in Montréal set the stage for a career that would span nearly every medium available to a Quebec creator. Her journalism training at Université de Montréal gave her the tools to ask hard questions—a skill she’d later deploy on live television.

Career milestones

  • In the early 1950s, hosted Radio-Canada’s Déjeuner en musique (Wikipedia)
  • Co-hosted Jean et Janette and Mon mari et nous with husband Jean Lajeunesse at CKAC (Wikipedia)
  • Helped create Quelle famille! (1969–1974) on Radio-Canada (Youth Media Alliance)
  • Appeared on television for Radio-Canada, Télé-Métropole, and Radio-Québec (Wikipedia)

The pattern: Bertrand consistently used her platform to push boundaries—whether in the kitchen or in the studio. Her cookbook wasn’t just about food; it was about giving women tools to balance work and home.

The upshot

Bertrand’s career trajectory—from print journalist to radio host to TV creator—mirrors the evolution of Quebec media itself. For aspiring Canadian broadcasters, her path shows that longevity comes from adapting to new formats while keeping a consistent editorial voice.

What is Janette Bertrand known for?

Television and journalism

  • Pioneer in Quebec radio and television (Wikipedia)
  • Hosted talk shows and news programs across multiple networks (Wikipedia)
  • Became a confidante to teens through Comment, pourquoi? in the 1960s (Place des Arts)

Bertrand’s television work wasn’t just about ratings—it was about reaching people where they lived. Her show Comment, pourquoi? gave teenagers a platform to ask questions about life, love, and identity at a time when such topics were rarely discussed publicly.

Avec un grand A

  • Created and hosted Avec un grand A in 1986 (Place des Arts)
  • Addressed taboo topics like domestic violence, abortion, and homosexuality (Place des Arts)
  • Became a landmark series in Quebec television history (Youth Media Alliance)

What this means: Avec un grand A wasn’t just a TV show—it was a cultural intervention. By putting domestic violence and abortion on screen in the 1980s, Bertrand forced Quebec society to confront issues it had long ignored.

Social impact

  • Later broke taboos in Parler pour parler by encouraging dialogue on transgender identity and surrogacy (Place des Arts)
  • Helped democratize cooking with Les recettes de Janette (1968), designed to help households reconcile family and professional obligations (Place des Arts)
  • Advocate for women’s rights and social justice throughout her career (Youth Media Alliance)

The catch: reaching 100 is rare enough, but doing so while still being remembered for work that changed a society is rarer still. Bertrand’s centenarian status isn’t just a personal milestone—it’s a cultural benchmark for Quebec.

Why this matters

For Quebec’s media landscape, Bertrand’s willingness to address transgender identity and surrogacy in the 2000s—decades after her first shows—proves that social advocacy doesn’t have an expiration date. Canadian broadcasters looking to maintain relevance should note: the audience trusts voices that grow with the times.

How old is Janette Bertrand?

Birth date and age calculation

  • Born March 25, 1925 (Wikipedia)
  • Turned 100 on March 25, 2025 (Place des Arts)
  • Age confirmed by Wikipedia and Canada.ca (Wikipedia)

Simple math: born in 1925, alive and active in 2025. That’s a century of contributions to Quebec culture, as the Youth Media Alliance noted in their 2025 tribute (Youth Media Alliance).

Centenarian status

  • Celebrated her 100th birthday in March 2025 (Place des Arts)
  • Youth Media Alliance described her as having made 100 years of contribution to Quebec culture (Youth Media Alliance)
  • Place des Arts hosted a tribute event celebrating her legacy (Place des Arts)

The pattern: Bertrand consistently used her platform to push boundaries—whether in the kitchen or in the studio. Her cookbook wasn’t just about food; it was about giving women tools to balance work and home.

What are some books written by Janette Bertrand?

Notable titles

  • Les recettes de Janette (1968) – a cookbook designed to help households reconcile family and professional obligations (Place des Arts)
  • Multiple other books exploring social issues (Amazon author page)
  • Bibliography available on Amazon author page (Amazon author page)

Bertrand’s books, like her television work, often carried a social mission. Les recettes de Janette wasn’t just a collection of recipes—it was a practical tool for women entering the workforce, offering quick meals that didn’t sacrifice nutrition.

Themes in her writing

  • Books often explore social issues and women’s roles (Place des Arts)
  • Writing reflects her advocacy for gender equality and family balance (Youth Media Alliance)
  • Her cookbook was part of a broader effort to democratize cooking for working families (Place des Arts)

The implication: Bertrand didn’t just appear on screen—she built the shows that defined Quebec’s cultural identity in the mid-20th century.

Who is Marc Bertrand?

Relationship to Janette Bertrand

  • Marc Bertrand is a booking agent listed on MN2S talent roster (MN2S)
  • Not directly related to Janette Bertrand based on available sources
  • No familial connection confirmed in public records

This is a common point of confusion. Marc Bertrand, the booking agent, shares a surname with Janette Bertrand but appears to be a different person entirely. No source links them as family members.

Professional background

  • Works as a booking agent in the entertainment industry (MN2S)
  • Listed on MN2S talent roster (MN2S)
  • No known connection to Quebec media or Janette Bertrand’s career

The catch: reaching 100 is rare enough, but doing so while still being remembered for work that changed a society is rarer still. Bertrand’s centenarian status isn’t just a personal milestone—it’s a cultural benchmark for Quebec.

Timeline

  • 1925: Born in Montréal, Québec (Wikipedia)
  • 1940s: Began career in radio and television (Wikipedia)
  • 1954: Appeared in TV series Toi et moi (Wikipedia)
  • 1968: Published Les recettes de Janette (Place des Arts)
  • 1969–1974: Co-created Quelle famille! on Radio-Canada (Youth Media Alliance)
  • 1986: Created and hosted Avec un grand A (Place des Arts)
  • 1992: Named Chevalier in the National Order of Quebec (Wikipedia)
  • 2002: Received Order of Canada (Wikipedia)
  • 2020: Elevated to Companion of the Order of Canada (Wikipedia)
  • 2025: Celebrated 100th birthday (Place des Arts)

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Born March 25, 1925 in Montréal (Wikipedia)
  • Quebec journalist, actress, educator, writer (Wikipedia)
  • Created Avec un grand A (Place des Arts)
  • Recipient of Order of Canada and National Order of Quebec (Wikipedia)
  • Turned 100 in 2025 (Place des Arts)
  • Married actor Jean Lajeunesse (Wikipedia)
  • In a relationship with Donald Janson for more than 40 years (Place des Arts)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth not publicly documented
  • Details about children not confirmed in public records
  • Current residence not disclosed
  • Full bibliography not comprehensively cataloged online

Quotes

“Janette Bertrand has made 100 years of contribution to Quebec culture.”

— Youth Media Alliance (industry organization)

“She became a confidante to teens through Comment, pourquoi? in the 1960s, and later broke taboos in Parler pour parler by encouraging dialogue on transgender identity and surrogacy.”

— Place des Arts (Montréal cultural institution)

“Avec un grand A addressed homosexuality and domestic violence.”

— Place des Arts (Montréal cultural institution)

“She helped democratize cooking with Les recettes de Janette, published in 1968, designed to help households reconcile family and professional obligations.”

— Place des Arts (Montréal cultural institution)

Janette Bertrand’s century of work leaves Quebec with a clear legacy: television can be a force for social change, not just entertainment. For Canadian broadcasters and journalists, the choice is clear—follow her model of using media to address uncomfortable truths, or risk irrelevance in a world that increasingly demands authenticity.

Additional sources

placedesarts.com, imdb.com, youtube.com

For a deeper look at her impact on Canadian media, explore Janette Bertrands legacy and the awards she received over her century-long career.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is Janette Bertrand’s most famous TV show?

Avec un grand A (1986) is her most famous creation, a series that addressed taboo topics like domestic violence, abortion, and homosexuality (Place des Arts).

How did Janette Bertrand influence Quebec television?

She pioneered the use of television to address social issues, creating shows like Comment, pourquoi? and Parler pour parler that gave voice to marginalized topics and communities (Place des Arts).

What awards has Janette Bertrand received?

She was named Chevalier in the National Order of Quebec (1992), received the Order of Canada (2002), was elevated to Companion of the Order of Canada (2020), and received the Prix Condorcet (2003) (Wikipedia).

Is Janette Bertrand still alive?

Yes, she celebrated her 100th birthday on March 25, 2025 (Place des Arts).

What is Janette Bertrand’s educational background?

She studied journalism at the Université de Montréal (Wikipedia).

Did Janette Bertrand write any novels?

She authored multiple books, including the cookbook Les recettes de Janette (1968), with her bibliography available on her Amazon author page (Amazon author page).

What social issues did Janette Bertrand address in her work?

She addressed domestic violence, abortion, homosexuality, transgender identity, surrogacy, and women’s roles in society (Place des Arts).

Related reading

  • Charlotte Cardin – Another Quebec artist who has shaped Canadian culture
  • Gordie Howe – A Canadian icon whose legacy spans decades