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Alanis Nadine Morissette, singer, songwriter, producer, actor, activist (born 1 June 1974 in Ottawa, ON). Alanis Morissette is one of Canada’s most recognized and internationally acclaimed singer-songwriters. She established herself as a Juno-winning teen pop star in Canada before adopting an edgy alternative rock sound. She exploded onto the world stage with her record-breaking international debut, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It sold more than 16 million copies in the United States and 33 million worldwide. It is the highest-selling debut album by a female artist in the US and the best-selling debut album ever worldwide. It is also the best-selling album of the 1990s and the first album by a Canadian artist to sell more than two million copies in Canada. Described by Rolling Stone magazine as the “undisputed queen of alt-rock angst,” Morissette has won 13 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards. She has sold 60 million albums worldwide, including Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998), Under Rug Swept (2002) and Flavors of Entanglement (2008). Also an actor and activist, she is a member of the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame.

This article was originally published in Maclean’s magazine on March 8, 1999. Partner content is not updated.

TEN YEARS AGO, Alanis MORISSETTE arrived on the music scene (for the second time) with serious rocker hair, a banshee voice and bitter lyrics about oral sex. This year, that anniversary can be celebrated by anyone waiting in line to buy a Starbucks biscotti and cappuccino.

Alanis Obomsawin, CC, GOQ, filmmaker, singer, artist, storyteller (born 31 August 1932 near Lebanon, New Hampshire). Alanis Obomsawin is one of Canada’s most distinguished documentary filmmakers. She began her career as a professional singer and storyteller before joining the National Film Board (NFB) in 1967. Her award-winning films address the struggles of Indigenous peoples in Canada from their perspective, giving prominence to voices that have long been ignored or dismissed. A Companion of the Order of Canada and a Grand Officer of the Ordre national du Québec, she has received the Prix Albert-Tessier and the Canadian Screen Awards’ Humanitarian Award, as well as multiple Governor General’s Awards, lifetime achievement awards and honorary degrees.

Alannah Myles (born Byles), singer, songwriter (born 25 December 1958 in Toronto, Ontario). Alannah Myles cut an aggressive and confident, leather-clad figure in Canadian pop.

Alice Parizeau, (née Poznanska), journalist, novelist and essayist (born 25 Jul 1930 in Luniniec, Poland; died 30 September 1990 in Montréal).

Alison Pick, poet and novelist (born at Toronto, 1975).

​Amy Sky, singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, television host (born 24 Sep 1960 in Toronto, ON), B MUS (Toronto) 1982.

 Boardman was promoted to principal dancer in 1985.

Andrea Martin, actress, writer (born at Portland, Maine 15 January 1947).

Andrea Nann, dancer, choreographer, dance educator, artistic director (b at Vancouver 20 Sep 1966). Andrea Nann's interest in using dance to explore and express human experience stems from her youth, growing up as the youngest child of social workers.

Angela Abdou, writer (born 11 May 1969 in Moose Jaw, SK). Angie Abdou earned a PhD in English literature and creative writing from the University of Calgary, following degrees from the University of Regina and University of Western Ontario.

Grauerholz's work has been shown in exhibition for over 12 years and occupies an important place in Canadian and international photography.

Anisia Campos. Pianist, teacher, b Rio de Janeiro 1940, naturalized Canadian 1971. Anisia Campos graduated from l'École normale de musique in Paris (where she studied with Alfred Cortot and Reine Gianoli) and from the Salzbourg Mozarteum, where she worked with the well-known pedagogue Karl Leimer.

Anita Rau Badami, writer (born 1961 at Rourkela, Odisha, India). Badami grew up in India and earned a BA in English from the University of Madras.

Anita Sleeman (b Andrès). Composer, conductor, b San Jose, Cal, 12 Dec 1930, immigrated to Canada 1963; Diploma (Placer College) 1952?, B MUS (UBC) 1971, M MUS (UBC) 1974, DMA (USC) 1982. Anita Sleeman began piano lessons at age three, later taking up trumpet and French horn at school.

 Ann Blades's illustrations for Betty Waterton's A Salmon for Simon (1978), set in a native fishing village, received the Canada Council Children's Literature Prize. By the Sea: An Alphabet Book (1985) won the Elizabeth Meazik-Cleaver Award for Illustration.

(Barbara) Ann Burrows. Teacher, critic, b Entrance, west of Edmonton, 16 Jul 1922; ARCM 1945, M MUS (Indiana) 1964, honorary LL D (Alberta) 1987. Her teachers included Frank Merrick and Frank Howes at the RCM 1942-6, Boris Roubakine in Banff, and Raymond Dudley and György Sebök at Indiana U.

Ann (Frances) Golden. Contralto, teacher, b Ottawa; L MUS (McGill) 1958, B MUS (McGill) 1968. Among her singing teachers at the École Vincent-d'Indy and McGill University were Bernard Diamant and Jan Simons.

Mortifee, Ann. Composer, singer, actress, b Durban, South Africa, 30 Nov 1947, naturalized Canadian 1961; BA (British Columbia) 1968. While studying English 1964-8 at the University of British Columbia, she began her career as a folk and blues singer-guitarist at the Bunkhouse.