The weather in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, where Marie was born is, in one word, severe. This was the environment for "a wonderful childhood," as she likes to say, where she, her siblings (she was one of 12), and friends ice skated and froze fingers, toes and earlobes, ran races, walked everywhere, played basketball year round, and sang. In her first singing contest at age six, which included all six year olds in Regina, Marie won first prize. That was just the beginning.