Have you had a chance to look at the new website for the Noreen Young Award for the Arts? It has now been more than a year since we said goodbye to Noreen Young, O.C. (1939–2025) but we are happy to say that her legacy will live on through an endowment fund. Noreen was a titan of Canadian culture. As a recipient of the Order of Canada, the creator of Under the Umbrella Tree, and the visionary behind Puppets Up!, she proved that you don’t need a big city stage to create world-class magic. While we miss her wit and spirit every day, her legacy is very much alive—and growing.
A community coming together
We are thrilled to share that, thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, the Noreen Young Award for the Arts (NYAA) Fund has already raised $13,115.09! It was first awarded in 2025 with a flow-trough donation from Puppets Up!, and Mycah Olson was the inaugural recipient. Mycah, and ADHS student, has been studying Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph.
This permanent, endowed fund ensures that Noreen’s passion for the arts continues to support the next generation of creators right here in Mississippi Mills. It provides a $1,000 annual award to a local student pursuing post-secondary education in the arts, helping them take their first steps into a professional creative life.
Coming this summer: The Art of Noreen Young
While the world knew her for her puppets, many forget that Noreen was a classically trained artist. This summer, during the festival and into the fall, we are proud to offer a rare glimpse into another side of her genius.
In a special partnership with Sivarulrasa Gallery, we will be presenting an exhibition of Noreen’s drawings. Her brother, Stephen Brathwaite, is working closely with Sanjeev Sivarulrasa to curate and mount this show. It is a beautiful tribute to her formal art school roots and her keen eye for character and form.
Best of all, all proceeds from this show will go directly to the NYAA Fund, helping us grow the endowment and support even more students in the years to come.
How to Apply or Support
- For Students: The application window for the $1,000 award is fast approaching! All schools and students in Mississippi Mills have been reminded that applications are accepted from May 1 to May 21. Details can be found at local schools or at ca
- For Art Lovers: Keep an eye on our newsletter for the official dates of the exhibition at Sivarulrasa Gallery this summer.
- For Donors: You can contribute to the fund at any time through the Ottawa Community Foundation portal.
A Sincere Reflection
Noreen’s life was a masterclass in how to live with imagination and heart. She turned a small town into the center of the puppetry universe, and today, as Puppets Up! – Presented by Minto, we carry that torch forward.
We don’t just look back in sadness today; we look forward with the same excitement Noreen felt every time she started a new project. We are building a future where art is celebrated, students are supported, and the nonsense never truly ends.
Thank you, Noreen. We’re still pulling rabbits out of hats, and we think you’d be pretty proud of the view.
