Charlebois Tina

The passion of poetry

Although known throughout the French-speaking Ontario, poet and author Tina Charlebois has always been a passionate for literary prowess. As proof, in addition to her poetry collections, she also taught French at La Citadelle for nearly 10 years now.

Article by Alexandra Montminy
Journal de Cornwall
4 December 2015

The writer, who has three collections of poetry to her credit: Miroir sans teint (2014), Poils lisses (2006), Tatouages et testaments (2002), plus a new online short story Beurre d’arachide et téléphone cellulaire, and currently working on the creation of a new book to be published shortly.

"I am currently writing a poetic essay in my father's company, André Charlebois, which should, hopefully, be published by the end of the year," she announced in a recent Journal telephone interview.

It seems that father and daughter share not only a passion for words, but that of teaching. "My father is also a teacher. He somehow passed this passion, I guess, but did not pressure me to follow his footsteps, "said Ms. Charlebois, who teaches French to students at École secondaire catholique La Citadelle."I work with my poetry Grade 12 students, but I do not teach them my poetry," joked Tina Charlebois warmly.

The Franco-Ontarian author, native of Iroquois, halfway between Cornwall and Brockville, returned to settle in the region when she decided to teach the language that inspires the French, even in Cornwall in 2006. "I went to school in Cornwall and so it looked like coming back here was natural when I talked about teaching" told the woman poet.

But why would a person who loves the language of Molière seek to establish herself in a community where there are so few francophones. "The francophone minority, I have always sought it in some way. It is a little part of me, because I have always lived where French was not up to the foreground, "Charlebois said.