Gabrielle Roy’s Chronology

1909
Born on March 22 in Saint-Boniface, Manitoba
1915-1928
Student at St.Joseph’s Academy in Saint-Boniface
1928-1929
Pedagogical Studies at the Winnipeg Normal School
1929-1930
First positions as teacher, first in Marchand then in Cardinal
1930-1937
Grade 1 teacher at the Provencher School in Saint-Boniface (school for boys); is also active with the Cercle Molière
Summer 1937
Temporary teaching position at WaterHen
1937-1939
England and France: drama classes; travelling
1939-1945
Upon her return from Europe, Gabrielle Roy settles in Québec and lives on the revenue she makes from the sales of texts to various Montreal papers. At this time, she begins writing Bonheur d’occasion; she lives primarily in Montreal but is often away to Rawdon and Port-Daniel.
Summer 1945
Bonheur d’occasion is published in Montreal
1947
The english version of Bonheur d’occasion, The Tin Flute, is selected as the book of the month by the Literary Guild of America; in June, Universal Pictures buys the cinematographic rights; in August, Gabrielle weds Marcel Carbotte; in September she is honored by the Société royale du Canada; in November, Bonheur d’occasion is awarded the Prix Fémina
1947-1950
At the end of September 1947, Gabrielle Roy and her husband leave for Paris where they will remain for three years; Gabrielle travels to Britain, Switzerland, and England
1950
La Petite Poule d’Eau is published in Montreal; the following year, this book will be published in Paris, and its English language version, Where Nests the Water Hen, will be published in New York
1950-1952
Upon returning from France, the couple settles first in Ville Lasalle, then in Quebec where Gabrielle Roy will live for the rest of her life
1954
Alexandre Chenevert is published in Montreal and Paris; the following year, its English language version, The Cashier, is published
1955
Rue Deschambault is published in Montreal and Paris; its English language version, Street of Riches, is published in 1956. Gabrielle Roy receives the Gouvernor General of Canada Award
1956
Gabrielle Roy is awarded the “Prix Duvernay”
1957
Gabrielle Roy purchases a property at Petite-Rivière-Saint-François where she will henceforth spend her summers
1961
Travel to Ungava, then to Greece with her husband; La Montagne secrète is published in Montreal in the fall, the following year sees its Parisian publishing and the release of its English language version, The Hidden Mountain
Winter 1964
Sojourn in Arizona at the time of her sister Anna’s death
1966
La Route d’Altamont as well as its English language version, The Road Past Altamont, is published
Summer 1967
A text titled Terre des hommes is published in the Montreal Expo Album; in July, Gabrielle receives the Order of Canada Award
1968
Honorary Doctorate from Laval University
1970
in March, Gabrielle travels to St.Boniface to be with her dying sister, Bernadette; in the fall, La Rivière sans repos, and its English language version, Windflower, is published
1971
Gabrielle receives the “Prix David”
1972
Cet été qui chantait, for which the English language version, Enchanted Summer won’t be released until 1976, is published
1975
Un jardin au bout du monde, for which the English language version, Garden in the Wind won’t be released until 1977, is published
1976
Ma vache Bossie, a children’s book, is published
1977
Ces enfants de ma vie, which is given the Governor General’s Award, and for which the English language counterpart, Children of My Heart, will be released in 1979, is published
1978
Gabrielle Roy receives the Molson Award from the Canadian Arts Council; Fragiles Lumières de la terre for which the English language version The Fragile Lights of Earth won’t be released until 1982, is published
1979
Courte-Queue, a children’s book which receives the “Prix de littérature jeunesse” from the Canadian Arts Council, and for which the English language version Cliptail is released the following year, is published
1982
De Quoi t’ennuies-tu, Éveline? is published
1983
July 13 - Gabrielle Roy deceases at Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Quebec
1984
La Détresse et l’Enchantement, an autobiography, is published