Régine Chassagne

Life & family

Régine Chassagne is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist. She is a founding member of indie rock band Arcade Fire, along with her husband, musician Win Butler.

Her parents, Marie-Alice and Stanley Chassagne, emigrated from Haiti during the dictatorship of François Duvalier. She was raised in St-Lambert, Montréal. She has a son with Win. A picture of Régine’s parents can be seen here.

Régine’s paternal grandfather was Roland Dominique Chassagne (the son of Dominique Chassagne and Henriette Roland). Régine’s grandfather Roland was born in Jérémie, Haiti. Two of Dominique and Henriette’s sons were listed as “white” and “black” in their death records in Illinois.

Régine’s paternal grandmother was Nancy Berth Turnbull (the daughter of Arthur Francis Parkinson Turnbull and Berthe/Bertha Velten). Nancy was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Arthur was born in Caersws, Montgomeryshire, Wales, to English-born parents, William Turnbull and Nancy Parkinson. Berthe was born in Port-au-Prince.

Régine’s maternal grandfather was Francis Victor Chiappini (the son of Juan/Jean José Antonio Chiappini Diedone/Piedone and Clementina Leticia Cordero Cabral). Francis was born in Dajabón, Dominican Republic. Juan is said to have been born in Fort Liberté, Haiti, or Corsica, France, the son of Dominique Antoine Chiappini Paoli, who was from Letia, Corsica, and of Rosa Diedone/Piedone Alexandre. Régine’s great-grandmother Clementina was born in Las Águas, Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, the daughter of Tiberio Efraín Cordero Holguín and Maria Clementina Leticia Cabral Mejía.

Régine’s maternal grandmother was named Mercédès Chassagne. Mercédès was born on Haiti.