DCHP-2

animator In contrast to the earlier borrowing from French (OED-3; 1914 or earlier), where an animateur is someone who organizes prestige cultural events (OED-3, s.v. "animateur"), animator relates to a broad range of occupations in CanE. DCHP-2 (September 2016)

• 1 n. — Entertainment

  a guide at a historical site dressed in period costume acting as a historical person (see Image 1).

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — The general definition "a person who (or thing which) animates, gives life, enlivens, or inspires" (see OED-3, s.v. "animator" n. (1)) has become specialized in the Canadian context. In CanE it refers to those who animate the past by wearing costume in historical sites, parks, etc.
  See also COD-2, s.v. "animator" (3), which is marked "Cdn".

• 2 n. — Quebec and New Brunswick; often in compound nouns, often Education

  organizer, counsellor, or group leader.

  Type: 1. Origin — Animator has come into Quebec English directly from Quebec French in the last quarter of the twentieth century, often in phrases related to particular occupational titles. It is found in the second language English of Francophones, but, crucially, also in first-language English speakers in that province. As the quotations illustrate, the range of this versatile term is very wide.
  See also ITP Nelson, s.v. "animator" (3), which is marked "Quebec".

  See also: animateur