The author Hélène de Blois, who has amazed many children with her works of children’s literature over the years, died on January 13 at the age of 54.
The announcement of the writer’s death was made on Wednesday by the Toxique Trottoir street theater troupe, for which Ms. de Blois had recently collaborated in writing the texts for the Angus theatrical journey! Rosemont tragi-comedy. The author died at the CHUM, where she had recently been admitted to palliative care. She was surrounded by loved ones and family as she left, a statement issued on Wednesday said.
Born in 1969, Hélène de Blois completed a bachelor’s degree in French studies at the Université de Montréal and another in drama at the Université de Montréal. First an actress in plays, the Montrealer published her first children’s novel in 1999, A train to Kénogami, who was then a finalist for the Cécile Gagnon award. At the dawn of her 30th birthday, Hélène de Blois then decided to devote herself more to writing.
Over the past 24 years, the children’s author has produced several books, including Through the gate of the elephants, which was later translated into English, as well as the album The tree, the moon and me. She also released a new album last November, The highest branchco-written with Émilie Leduc and published by Monsieur Ed.
The author has also met many young readers in libraries and schools on several occasions in recent years in order to pass on to them the taste for reading, which has fueled her fruitful career.
Hélène de Blois leaves to mourn her family and loved ones. A first official tribute will be paid to him on February 18 at the Alfred-Dallaire Memoria salon in Montreal.
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