Media Centre > News Releases > Archive > 1999 > November 1, 1999

Broadcast Hall of Fame:  Another first for Céline

Ottawa, November 1, 1999 -- Quebec’s own international diva, Céine Dion, will be inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in the region where she grew up, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) announced today.

Induction of the multi-award winning Dion, who has recorded 23 albums in the past nineteen years, many going platinum, will take place November 2nd, during the CAB Gold Ribbon Awards Gala at Broadcasting ‘99, Montreal. She joins Bryan Adams, and Anne Murray, as the third member in the new category honouring Canadian music stars.

Canadian artists are recognized for "outstanding talent and commitment for enhancing Canadian culture and for enriching the lives of Canadians through private radio."

Céline Dion is the first French-Canadian performer to achieve superstar status worldwide. The first French-Canadian artist to take top honours at the ’91 Juno Awards for "Female vocalist of the year", and "Album of the Year". The first artist to have a French-language album certified gold in the UK. The first Canadian performer ever to score a gold record in France.

"Céline Dion’s meteoric rise is the biggest Canadian success story of the ‘90s," says CAB President Michael McCabe. "Her talent keeps her at the top of the charts, and Canadian radio is proud to support her."

An Officer of the Order of Canada, Dion received the French governments’ Medal of Arts in recognition of her status as best selling French-language artist in history. Canadian Junos and American Grammys line her shelves, as do awards from Japan, Ireland, and the UK. Radio airplay and retails sales won her six Billboard Music Awards. Most recently, Dion was inducted to Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Prior to embarking on her extended hiatus, Dion will perform one last time in Canada. Heralding in the new millennium, her New Year’s Eve concert will be televisied in its entirety exclusively in Canada by the TVA network. "We are absolutely delighted to be showcasing Céline’s concert on this most important evening," says Daniel Lamarre, President & CEO, Groupe TVA Inc. "The fact that she chose her hometown to say adieu is something we will always treasure."

Broadcasting ‘99 is expected to attract more than 500 broadcast executives from across Canada.

The CAB represents the vast majority of Canada’s private radio and television stations and specialty services.

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For more information, please contact the CAB at (613) 233-4035 and ask for Michael Buzzell at ext. 305 or Corinne Kovalsky at ext. 351. Also available on the Internet at http://www.cab-acr.ca