Chiarelli was raised in East Africa while her parents were working as missionaries. She moved to Ontario at age 11 and later attended a boarding school. She graduated from the New School of Drama in Toronto and moved to Vancouver in 1989.[3]
12"Setting high standards for Vancouver stage acting: In separate performances, Seana McKenna and Gina Chiarelli show how it's done". Vancouver Sun, January 17, 2001.
↑"Key Genie nominees". Toronto Star, January 26, 2006.
↑"Jessie Awards 1999 Winners: The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards honour the best in Vancouver theatre during the 1998-99 season". Vancouver Sun, June 14, 1999.
↑"The musical Urinetown wins top Jessie award". Vancouver Sun, June 20, 2006.
↑"Jessie Awards a Merry romp". Vancouver Sun, June 25, 2013.