What You Didn't Know...

Celine has been involved in many charitable events in her life. Most recently, she performed at the VH1 Divas live concert. All five of VH1's Divas (Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, and Aretha Franklin) are involved in the VH1 "Save the Music" campaign. This campaign is designed to keep up music programs in schools around the country.

Celine is committed to many other good causes. She is the National Celebrity Patron for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and supports the T.J. Martell Foundation and the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. The article below appears courtesy of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF).

"Superstar Celine Dion began promoting public awareness of cystic fibrosis in 1982, when, as an adolescent, she embarked on her singing career. Once referred to as la p'tit Quebecoise, Celine was virtually unknown outside her native province of Quebec, until recent years when she attained international renown. Throughout Celine's career, however, one element has remained constant - her commitment to the CF cause. That commitment is marked by real life tragedy. Celine's niece, Karine, died from the disease, at the age of 16, in her presence.

Celine began supporting the CF cause at the regional level of the Foundation, through her collaboration with the Association quebecoise de la fibrose kystique (AQFK), the Foundation's provincial arm in Quebec. She helped spread the CF message by participating in media interviews, AQFK public service campaigns and fundraising activities. In August 1993, Celine strengthened her commitment to the CF cause, by graciously accepting the Foundation's invitation to be its national Celebrity Patron. As part of her increased involvement, Celine participated in the Foundation's Canada-wide public awareness campaign, from 1994 to 1997. The central message of this campaign featuring Celine and Chanelle Lemieux Lecavalier, a child with CF, from Hull, Quebec, was one of both hope - that a cure or an effective control for cystic fibrosis will be found; and urgency - that continued public support of the CF cause is required to realize this goal. In addition to promoting public awareness of the CF cause, Celine generates significant revenues for cystic fibrosis research and treatment from Canadian and international sources, and has generously donated her appearance fees from several concerts and guest appearances to the Foundation. In 1996, Celine was responsible for personally securing an important new sponsorship with Royal Airlines. Celine's collaboration with Royal Airlines is expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for CF in 1997 alone. There is no doubt that Celine's immense popularity, both in Canada and internationally, will continue to benefit the CF cause. As her songs reach a wider audience all over the world, she is now in a position to appeal to the generosity of a greater number of people. Each year and each step of her involvement has brought us closer to victory against cystic fibrosis."

Pictured on the top of this letter written by Celine is Celine with her neice Karine. Karine suffered very much, until she died in the arms of Celine at age 16 on May 2, 1993. Celine has told many interviewers on differant occassions that she felt very proud to be with Karine at that time. Karine had told her she was afraid, and Celine was their to comfort her. Celine felt she had been chosen to guide Karine out of this world and into the hands of God. She still remebers feeling the life leave from her body.

---Le 2 mai 93, la nièce de Céline, Karine Ménard (fille de sa soeur Liette), âgée de 16 ans décède. Karine était atteinte de fibrose kystique et était la porte-parole de la fondation québécoise de cette maladie depuis bien des années. Céline porte aussi le flambeau en faisant très souvent de la promotion pour la fondation.---

Celine recorded a song in both French and English as a type of tribute to her neice. The song... 'Vole/Fly' Vole can be found on Celine's 'Deux' Album and Fly can be found on her 'Falling into You' Album.

Celine and her husband Rene Angelil are part of the five member founding team behind Nickels Restaurants.

Nickels is a family restaurant with a 50’s theme that incorporates three major cornerstones of the era: good food, good value, and good times. Customers walking into the restaurant take a trip back to the past with vinyl booths, old fashioned milk shakes, and home made apple pie. The menu has all the hits - hamburgers, club sandwiches, pizza, pasta, chicken, ribs, steaks, and the famous Nickels smoked meat sandwich.

The restaurant’s first location opened its doors on December 5, 1990 on Cote Vertu Boulevard in the city of St-Laurent, Quebec. Today, Nickels can be found throughout Quebec and Ontario. Future plans call for an expansion into the United States.

Celine takes a personal interest in Nickels, going as far as designing the uniforms for the waitresses and appearing at different Nickels restaurants.

---Les Nickel's sont la propriété à parts égales de Céline Dion, René Angélil, Paul Sara (cousin de René) ainsi que Peter et Lawrence Mammas. Seulement 1 restaurant appartient directement aux 5 fondateurs, un autre appartient à des membres du clan Dion, et tous les autres sont des franchises.

Le 5 décembre 1995, lors du 5ième anniversaire de la chaîne de restaurants, on comptait 25 restaurants au Québec. Les prochains restaurants seront ouverts (entre autres) à Ottawa (Ontario, province voisine du Québec), puis à Orlando et Fort Lauderdale (Floride, USA).

Céline a choisi le nom des restaurants et a dessiné les costumes des employés, en plus de participer aux messages publicitaires. Le nom vient du fait que le chiffre 5 est le chiffre chanceux de Céline. De ce fait, les restaurants offraient une deuxième assiette de viande fumée (smoked meat) ou de spaghetti pour seulement 5 cents (au Canada ces pièces de monnaie sont faites en nickel). Le jukebox offre aussi ses pièces musicales pour la même somme.

Ces restaurants familiaux sont conçus selon le style des «diners» des années 50 et 60 aux USA; tout est plein de chrome, et décoré aux couleurs vives, en plus évidemment de posters et de disques d'or de sa célèbre propriétaire.---

Celine has graced the covers of many magazines and books with her dazzling figure. It's been said that she would like to extend her career into acting. Of course she can do it, she feels she's playing a roll with every song that she sings, and every video that she makes. That's part of the reason her music is so good. She feels and expresses emotions so you can understand and feel it also. Their hasn't been any official word yet, but the grape vine tells us Celine maybe staring in a movie really soon. This however wouldn't be the first time Celine has shown her acting ability. She starred in a television show as a child, and has made a few guest appearances on other shows including the hit show 'The Nanny'. However, I think Celine's main concern is a family. Then again, they can always have something planned for her big comeback.