Hélène Blais
1917 – 2012 – Inducted in 2024
Category of Education
Hélène Blais was instrumental in the music education of many, many children in Transcona from 1939 until 1983. She started teaching in her family house at 315 Victoria Ave East and in 1955, she opened and operated her own music studio, Hélène Blais Music Studios at 306 Day.
In 1967, as part of the Transcona Centennial celebrations, she was assigned the role of coordinating a Music Festival for Transcona Schools. This was an important step in taking music programs beyond the elementary classroom and to encourage the establishment of high school programs still thriving today.
She taught junior and senior rhythm bands, taking first place at the Winnipeg Kiwanis Music Festivals. She was the church organist at Notre Dame de L’Assumption Parish on Leola Street, and later in life, enjoyed entertaining other residents at her “Senior Citizens’ Complex”.
Ms. Blais finished her career in Transcona, teaching at a private studio at 112 Regent Avenue East from 1977-1983. She established the Hélène Blais Music Scholarship with Conservatory Canada, so that she could continue to share the gift of music after her passing. That scholarship still exists.