Madeleine Gagnon, a prominent figure in Québec literature, passed away at the age of 87 on May 1, 2026, in Montréal. Her death coincided with the recognition of young athletes Emma Ducharme and Florence Tremblay at the 2026 Sport-Études Celebration.
Gagnon was born on July 27, 1938. Over nearly five decades, she published around 40 works. Her last book, ‘Depuis toujours’, came out in 2013. In 1991, she won the Governor General’s Literary Award in poetry for ‘Chant pour un Québec lointain’. The municipal library of Amqui is named in her honor.
Emma Ducharme and Florence Tremblay were honored for their academic and athletic excellence at the event. Ducharme trains with the Rimouski Dolphins swim club. She aims to represent Canada in the 2028 Olympics. Tremblay is now part of the Canadian artistic swimming team and recently participated in a competition in Paris.
Awards and Achievements:
- Ducharme received a national scholarship valued at $2,000.
- Tremblay also received recognition for her performance.
- A total of 110 national scholarships were awarded during the event.
Ellena Rissanen from Rimouski stated that Gagnon “remains an inspiration for members of the club.” Ducharme expressed her goal to represent Canada either in 2028 at Los Angeles or in 2032 at Brisbane, Australia.
The impact of Gagnon’s work on feminism and Québec literature continues to resonate today. Her contributions shaped many voices within these movements.
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