Tributes

REMEMBERING NORMAN

I love Norman. The celebration for him in Vancouver was a wonderful reminder of why. I helped launch his professional career by bringing him to five different major cities in the United States to collaborate with me that included Boston, Boise, Albany, NY,& Atlanta. He was a fantastic collaborator.When he first started at SFU, where I was a resident artist, teacher and director I was developing a world premiere based on Jules Henry's Seminal work Pathways to Madness about how the culture can wreck havoc with its children. Some of the people who ran the program mentioned to me that he seemed to be a problematic student as he was older and opinionated. When we did the auditions, I had six different sides outside for the family that was being investigated in the pathways project. I told the student actors to read all the sides, but pick the one that they found most compelling, and that they could relate to. Norman claimed the 15 year-old girl and he nailed it. So I told him to go out and pick the older anthropology character, Jules Henry. He came back in and nailed it. It started us on a journey that lasted four decades, including my bringing Rumble to the Cultural Olympics in Atlanta. He recently stayed with me in New York City and we had a wonderful time just wandering the streets and remembering. I'll always remember.

Vinnie Murphy

******************

"Norman Armour changed my life." I wonder how many times those words have been spoken. In 2009 Norman and the wonderful Minna Schendlinger took a flyer on an unemployed, middle-aged arts administrator of extremely limited experience to take over as the interim Managing Director of the PuSh Festival so Minna could go and bring the lovely Casey into the world. With Minna's careful training, the support of an incredible Board of Directors and staff team, and Norman's profound mentoring ability the guy was able to help guide the ship safely to port at the conclusion of the 2011 festival. That guy, of course was me. I often refer to that year and a half as my Masters in Arts Administration. Norman was an amazing teacher. Encouraging, generous, patient, direct, sometimes intimidatingly so but always from a place of kindness and usually good humour. Yes he had a huge investment in the success of the festival, and yes it was in his best interests for me to succeed, but I always felt he had a genuine desire for me to succeed also just for me. That, to me is the mark of a true mentor and I have taken that forward with me in my own career in a most sacred way. I will never forget my time at PuSh. When it was up I had the honour of being asked by then Board Chair Max Wyman to join the Board. I was extremely grateful for my opportunity to serve and stay connected to the organization that had given so much to me. During those six years I also got to deepen my personal relationship with Norman and our friendship grew. Not long after I left my interim role at PuSh I met the beautiful Susan, my soon to be wife. And shortly after that I landed my job of a lifetime as the Manager of the Surrey Civic Theatres. I was told by my Manager at the time that Norman's reference of me sealed the deal on their decision to hire me. On the last day of Norman's incredible life Susan and I had the good fortune to have a visit with him in the afternoon. We talked of many things, had, as always some great laughs and I was once again given the chance to thank him, as I so often had and express my love and gratitude for him. Our marriage came up and Susan told Norman he was also partially responsible for that. He asked "How so?" Susan proceeded to tell him that she had a secret list when she was single of all the qualities and requirements she would want in a partner were she ever to consider marrying again. One was that the prospect would need to be making at least as much money as her as she had been the primary breadwinner in her previous marriage, working as a nurse. Landing the Surrey job sealed the deal with her as well. We all had a good laugh. Norman was very fond of Susan. He turned to her, gave her that wry Norman smile and said "I've been accused of being responsible for a lot of things in my life, some good, some not so much, but I can honestly say I've never been told I was responsible for someone's marriage." I think he was glad its a happy one! Fourteen years after joining PuSh for that short but glorious time I am happily married and about to retire from the City of Surrey. "Norman Armour changed my life." Yeah - he did. For real. Thank you Norman. I love you boss. I miss you every day.

Kent Gallie

******************

I’m glad I had the good fortune to work with and get to know Norman a bit through the PuSh Festival/Club PuSh. His charisma, intelligence, creativity, boldness, leadership, energy and warmth so impressed me, as it did many others across the globe. His extraordinary vision in creating the PuSh Festival put Vancouver on the map as a trailblazing hub for international performance and brought the local scene together like nothing before it. It’s obvious from the outpouring of love and praise from the community that he was a great friend, mentor and colleague for so many artists, members of the media, and arts administrators. Personally, I will forever associate Norman, my PuSh years, Theatre Conspiracy and Pi Theatre with some of the finest, most fun, most creatively inspiring times of my life.  

I told a friend that in the early years of knowing Norman I was a bit intimidated by him. My friend said something to the effect of, “I don’t know why, he’s just a regular guy.” My friend was not at all trying to diminish Norman's character, rather he was letting me know that some of those we consider giants are just everyday relatable people. After that bit of wisdom I was able to see the “normal” in Norman and relax more in his presence. Yet he remains an icon of immense vision, imagination and heart to me. 

My heartfelt condolences to Norman's loved ones and the huge community of friends and colleagues who loved him.

Belinda Bruce 

******************

I feel, although days have passed, that I am still processing the loss of our dear Norman Armour.  My sincere condolences to Lorna, Dani, and all the family and friends who loved him and cared for him.  He will be forever missed.  Just reading through these many, many tributes brings him a bit closer to us all, through laughter and tears.  It is a phenomenal place of sharing and recognizing his contributions, and how many people cared deeply for him.  

Norman was a man of great courage and confidence in the performing arts field.  While I am a dance gal and he was more a theatre guy, we loved comparing notes and excitement about artists who moved us, things we had seen, projects we wanted to share, and places we loved to be.  Our paths crossed often over 3+ decades, and he never failed to inspire me to be even more inquisitive and daring.  He offered me a unique perspective on some of the challenges before us, and how we could approach solutions with a breath of fresh air.  I know him to be a daring and curious producer, programmer and organizer, as well as a loyal friend, an artist and a lover of life.  His passing leaves a big hole in my heart, and in my world.  

May his memory be a blessing.    

Cathy Levy, writing today from Montreal xox

******************

First my deepest condolences, to Lorna, Dani and the whole Armour family.

I met Norman when we were students at the SFU Center for the Arts in the early/mid 80’s. A kind of daunting but impressive character who stood out in a pretty remarkable cast of future influencers in the then early days of the experimental performing arts scene in Vancouver. We became friends and later collaborators and this is where Norman confirmed what I already knew. He had a great mind for creativity and multi-disciplinary work and most importantly, structure and had a great feel for the creative spirit of those he was working with. His ability to understand what I was doing and provide me guidance in the use of collage, and the importance of rhythm, and juxtaposition and how to combine small bits of dance and theatre into a cohesive mix was truly priceless and to me.... unprecedented. A series of phone calls and meetings and sometimes short rehearsals produced almost instant improvements in my work, and was instrumental in my career as an artist. And  though this was a fertile time with many others involved in my collaborative process. Norman’s tremendous skill, vision and generosity nonetheless stood out and will always remain a shining light.

I will also remember him squeezing his lanky frame into the office he rented from us at our dance studio on West 5th (which was the first office of Rumble).

I approached him to become involved in the first draft of my piece, Stay Awake, a dance/theatre piece about the time I was shot by a customer while driving cab in Winnipeg, in part because we were both cab drivers. He was unavailable and I created a first draft with David Bloom. On the weekend we performed that first draft at the Firehall in December of 1988, Norman was driving cab and was held up by a customer. 

I guess that was the kismet that brought us to rework the piece with Dianne Brown, and of course he was instrumental in that process. He also wrote a fabulous and insightful

Monologue about the menace and risk/reward inherent in cab driving and of course, in life. I will also remember a review in the Toronto Star where Norman was referred to as (one of?) the sexiest men in the performing arts. I think he liked that.

He suggested that we turn that into a one hour piece and pairing that with another dance/theatre piece and I will always regret not taking him up on that offer. He could see the

power of dance/theatre and was already focussed on how to produce and find ways to bring those media together. 

He later provided me, great help in the creation of The Anatomy of Doubt, along with quite a few others, but his ability to focus the process on the most important things was,

Again, remarkable. That sparked a life long collaboration that included him inviting me to perform in the Show Must Go On, another fabulous and influential work Norman brought to the local arts scene. That show, which was performed solely by SFU graduates, also showed Norman’s great skill in doing many things at once; It highlighted a brilliant and controversial piece of art, it highlighted the achievements of SFU graduates, and provided an uplifting and often joyous spirit while highlighting the opening of the new Fei and Milton Wong Theatre in Vancouver (yet, another major turning point in the arts fabric of our city, that had a major stamp of Norman on it.)

We remained great friends and met regularly to talk about art and we always made sure that he would provide me insights into what to see and what was truly remarkable and

delightful in the world of the performing arts, and at PUSH.

Norman you will be sorely missed, but you have left behind a remarkable legacy in theatre and in many other media, including Dance. 

With all my love and respect, 

Harvey Meller

******************

I had a dream recently where I heard Norman laugh.  A perfect recollection of that ringing, reverberant, joyful explosion.

When I think of Norman, I remember driving to script meetings at his and Lorna’s home preparing myself to enter what I called Norman Time.  Whatever deadlines had to be met, whatever the size of the task was ahead of us Norman Time meant we would not rush, we would eat, drink, talk, listen to music, laugh, and find our way into the work.  Norman’s rapid-fire conversation was always lively, thoughtful, exploratory, and had a sense of urgency, like we were discussing the most important things ever. 

When I was his dramaturg at Rumble we started the Pilots program, annually providing a little seed money and support to a handful of new writing projects with local artists.  While Pilots was its official name, the program’s unofficial name was A Year Of Getting To Know Norman.  The belief being that any worthwhile collaboration started with a genuine connection between artists. So many good things were born out of just hanging out with him. 

I will always be grateful to Norman for his support and the opportunities he gave me to develop my skills.  I will always be grateful for Norman’s discerning eye and adventurous spirit as a curator; the work he brought to Vancouver lifted the whole community.  He was a truly gracious, bright light.  I will miss him.  

My heartfelt condolences to Lorna and all his nearest and dearest, 

Rachel Ditor

******************

Reflecting upon losing Norman, my friend for forty years since our SFU days in the early 80s, and my False Creek housemate for a time. Too many stories to share, but here’s one. Norman, some other friends and I hiked up Mount Seymour one day. My then-boyfriend Jeff Wall, although he’d grown up in Vancouver but had never climbed a mountain in his life, was reluctantly with us. Norman ribbed Jeff about being out of his element, teasing him as Norman did so well. 

I carried our lunch pack up the steep mountain and Jeff agreed to carry it back down. We all enjoyed our summit picnic and the spectacular view, then slowly headed back down the long mountain trek. Norman and I had concocted a mischievous plan. Each time we stopped for a break, one of us took the water bottle out of the pack on Jeff’s back. When putting the bottle back, Norman or I snuck in a small rock. Part way down, Jeff began noticing the surprising weight of the pack, wondering aloud how I had managed it on the upward climb. Barely contained our laughter, Norman and I carried on, adding rocks as we went. The others were all in on our joke, but Jeff remained oblivious. Down at the cars, Jeff reached inside his heavy pack for his keys and found it filled with rocks. Generous laughter ensued, only confirming what I already knew to be true: Norman and I always had a blast together, no matter who was in the room. 

Although geography kept us apart for most of the last few decades, Norman was always available for helpful suggestions, interesting anecdotes and most of all, loving friendship, as only someone who’s known you since you were both young and foolish can offer. 

Goodbye, dear Norman. Fare thee well.

Lisa Cochrane, Blandford NS

******************

I think of Norman's grin as he sat with me outside a cafe and spoke of his latest idea or plan.  I'm sure that is a memory for many.   It's impossible to imagine what Vancouver would be like today without Norman's artistic vision and his ability to share and manifest.   I know he didn't do it alone, that he had a gift for connection.  Let our collective arms hold softly those who were close to his heart.  And let us honour his gifts to all of us by keeping artistic vision bold and alive.  

Kathleen Flaherty

******************

I will always be grateful for Norman Armour’s vision which brought world class performance to everyone in Vancouver and made it accessible for other artists and audiences. Condolences to family and friends and all who were touched by his unique  and intelligent approach to the arts. 

******************

I was fortunate to have the wonderful opportunity in 2006 to become the General Manager of Rumble Theatre. While Norman had just moved on to focus solely on the PuSh Festival, Norman’s influence and impact in the Vancouver arts community through his work at Rumble was still very prevalent in my day-to-day work with the company. I remain grateful to Norman for founding that organization and for the opportunity it gave me to step up into arts management, allowing me to realize a significant career goal. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one early in my career who heard the urban legend that funders implemented word count limits specifically because of Norman’s ability to write to such great lengths, relaying his boundless passion for the projects and causes he was advocating for. I remember fondly the time I facilitated a talkback at The Cultch that Norman was in for Rumble’s production of Blackbird that he directed in 2009. He spoke with such intensity and depth about the work and was so engaging that nobody wanted the talkback to end. He was a force for the arts. His voice and his passion will be missed.

Laura Efron, Vancouver

******************

I will remember Norman first and foremost for his humour, mischievous grin, and the self deprecating banter that we always had together (especially in the PuSh office). I met him when I just started working in theatre and film here in Vancouver and then was hired at the PuSh Festival. I was young and more anxious then and also “knew it all” but he was always patient, edified me, and showed me how to advocate for myself. He took me under his wing (along with Sherrie Johnson) those years and his mentorship provided me with new opportunities that shaped the trajectory of my career. Thank you Norman, for being a friend, love you and will miss you. 

Michael Wipf

*****************

Sometimes death leaves a kind of gap in a person…it’s as if you’re on pause. You’re trying to reconcile every experience you had with someone and the reality that they have passed and yet this knowing of them is so alive inside you still.  To be clear this is not the experience of those who are suffering so acutely from the separation… this is the experience of knowing someone and loving them from this business we call life and art. He texted me a few days ago, we talked a couple of months ago – deep in us was this feeling or landing that the work we did together changed us in ways that still resonated. That we loved that it was still so profound it had a place in us almost cellular. This didn’t mean that Norman ever had to agree with me, or me him, and frankly in a time where everyone has to agree, weren’t we among the coolest people on the planet to argue, to demand the best from each other, and be pushed by collaborators that did not lean back, would not lean back – we were alive in creation, in who we were, in our passion for life and art and we found an equality that is not for the light of heart, we found an excellence that wasn’t necessarily excellent but it was because it was recorded in all of us as so damn close. Burning Vision was written from a deep grief, historical and personal. To get a chance to write it was to say survival lives in us and on the faces we love. We lost our set on tour which felt like we were all going to die because we’re so damn dramatic and we were going into tech., and I was touring with a toddler who didn’t care…you know how they are. We were all exhausted and distraught and we went to rehearsal and Norman Armour was finishing washing new found rocks that had all been cleaned and set in our circle.  The circle clock our actors would walk around… and we’ll continue to walk around.  He has always had that kind of weight.  

“Love is long”. To  Lorna and his family and all those he loved and worked with.

Marie Clements

*********************

On the passing of Norman Armour... a beacon of inspiration in the arts community and, more personally, a guiding star in my own journey. Norman wasn't just the founder of the PuSh (among many other things), he was a mentor, advisor, and a dear friend whose influence on my earliest endeavours in arts and culture was nothing short of transformative.

Norman welcomed my every query, no matter how trivial, with the same intensity and depth that characterized his memorable curtain speeches. His ability to infuse intellect with emotion made every interaction enlightening and deeply personal. Norman had this unique gift of making you feel seen and heard, and I know that made him an exceptional mentor.

His presence was a re-assurance. A source of wisdom and support I had taken for granted, naively assuming it would always be there to guide not only me but the next wave of emerging leaders in the arts — there are so many imagined dinner dates and introductions now left unfulfilled. My reflections on Norman are entirely selfish, because I received so much from him. I know his loss leaves a very particular void in the tapestry of our community.

Beyond his words and advice, Norman remains the only person in my life that would kiss me on the lips when greeting or parting — so casually and so intimately as friends.

I find myself wishing we had another hug and kiss left.

Mo Dhaliwal

*****************

Norman was such  a special human. His relish at discovering new things whether it was artists or ways of seeing was palpable and an inspiration to me to live life more fully. He is missed.

Rosie Hinde

*****************

Norman’s generosity of spirit shaped his every encounter with artists, their audiences he gathered and the many colleagues who will miss him dearly.  He brought it and shared it. R.I.P.

Chuck Helm

*****************

Norman was a collaborator-extraordinaire. The way in which he championed artists and arts organizations in Vancouver (and beyond) was unique in that he was continually aware of ways that he could make connections between them, and willing to take the time to see those to fruition. I am eternally grateful to him for the conversations we had and the generosity of spirit he showed in every interaction. He offered advice, accolades and genuine interest. He was a gem of a human. My condolences to his beloved family and friends. In his last year, his posts and focus showed where his true love lay. He was rich in love and life.

Leslie Hurtig, Artistic Director Vancouver Writers Fest

*****************

It has been a life honour to be part of the Armour family - I have so enjoyed the many visits to Sasha, John and all the “children”. I never had brothers so I was envious of Kate and Judith. They had four! And all Douglas, Robert, Eric and Norman were so very kind to me. Norman you will be missed so much. I send you all love and hugs at this very tough time. Xoxoxo 

Annis Campione

"It seems to me that if we love, we grieve. That’s the deal. That’s the pact. Grief and love are forever intertwined.” 

Nick Cave 

It is difficult to explain the sadness of Norman's departure. He was one of the first to invite us, an independent theater group from Argentina, the other side of the world, to perform at an international festival. Without his constant support and loyal friendship many of our later works would not have existed. A visionary, with a fantastic sense of humor. Thanks Norman, you will be remembered. Hugs from Argentina to all who loved him. 

Mariano Pensotti / Grupo Marea

******************

Norman and I go way back to SFU in the early 1980’s. We worked in productions together then and subsequently in the Vancouver theatre blast of students trained to ‘make their own work’. When Rumble Theatre started I reluctantly agreed to sit on his Board for a couple of years. He eventually told me he needed my “senior wisdom” for a while.  Then one evening over a glass of wine he told me of an idea he was thinking about: “an  international theatre festival here in Vancouver by invitation”. I asked lots of questions. Within a year Push Festival started. I was constantly  impressed by his ability to make things happen - and the rest is history. A treasured friend and colleague who influenced so many - a global village really sums up his impact.

To meet him was to love him.  Heart goes out to Lorna and his Toronto family. 

Gina Stockdale  

******************

I met Norman in Montreal in 2013. I had organised a Dutch Focus at Usine C and he went to discover the artists we presented there. We had a great moment en he really liked Jan Martens. Years after, he managed to invite his duet Sweat Baby Sweat to PuSh Festival. This gives me the opportunity to spend more time with Norman and to discover his sense of humour. He also introduced me to some artists from Vancouver. I will always remember we were together in his office and were looking at the budget. At that time, we managed to get some fundings from the Dutch government for Jan, the amount was quite important for a Canadian tour. He was also inviting French artists and was not so lucky with the French institute. He starts to make some comments and I discovered how he did not like the French “bureaucratie”, the same way for me. We started to laugh amazingly.

Thanks for all the things you did for us dear Norman.

Line Rousseau

Tilburg/Roubaix

NL/FR 

*****************

In 1994, I had a stint as the theatre writer/critic at the Vancouver Sun. Press release from Rumble Theatre for the show Wireless Graffiti. Evocative title. Better call this Norman Armour guy for a quote. After a half hour of rather strenuous notetaking, I thought, “Well, there’s an Ideas Man.”

I made a point of following Norman’s work as a creator, director, actor, curator and thinker. He and I crossed paths and made conversation until we became friends, collaborators, and partners in art & hijinks. I was one of countless artists that he generously mentored and encouraged, amusingly needled, teased, and cajoled to do better or somehow more interesting. A relationship that resolved in recent months to “simply” a calm deep listening.

Norman said that he wanted to “die well.” He did, I think, too short term, as well as he lived large – and that’s quite the challenge.

Norm was a big Nick Cave fan. This one came up this morning when I got the news. In no way definitive but a fitting, fleeting capsule of what he loved and wrestled with:

I was riding, I was riding home
The sun, the sun, the sun was rising from the field

I got a feeling I just can't shake
I got a feeling that just won't go away

[Chorus] You've got to just keep on pushing it
Keep on pushing it
Push the sky away

And if your friends think that you should do it different
And if they think that you should do it the same

And if you feel you got everything you came for
If you got everything and you don't want no more

And some people say it’s just rock n roll
Ah, but it gets you right down to your soul

Tim Carlson

******************

Words seem such an inadequate response to this very sad news. Norman was a very special person: smart, insightful, energetic, generous and honest with himself and others. He leaves Vancouver a better place than it was when he arrived, more aware of the artistic talent in this community and more connected to the remarkable work being done internationally. We are lucky he decided to make Vancouver his base, not just because of the organizations he initiated and built, but because he brought out the best in the people he connected to. As busy and productive as he was, he always had time for a conversation (often over a coffee or a meal).

As I mourn Norman’s  premature passing and rue the suffering he endured before he left, I can hardly imagine how those closest to this lovely man are feeling. My heartfelt condolences to Lorna, the Armour family, Dani and Norman’s many, many  friends.

Alice Niwinski

******************

Deep condolences to everyone.  

Love from Jeff Topham, Katie & Ace.  

******************

A wonderful memory: At the opening night of Palace Grand, at Norman’s 2008 festival, there was a technical difficulty within the first five minutes of the show that meant it needed to be reset and started again. It was a full house at the Waterfront theatre on Granville Island. The director, Kim Collier, jumped up from her seat and shouted across the room, “Hey Norman, how’s it going? What’s coming up?” and without missing a beat, Norman stood up too and vamped with her for several minutes, the audience was in stitches. He promoted upcoming shows, and managed to get a call for donations in. Talked about his burning questions, and hopes for the community. As always, thinking about what was happening and what else could be happening. Eventually the show restarted.

Nate Medd

*****************

One of the greatest lessons I learned as an artist was from Norman. He was directing me in Three in the Back, Two in the Head at the Roundhouse in Vancouver. He asked me a question no director had asked me before or has asked me since: “What do you want to say as an artist?” I was stunned. Nothing in my experience as a student or professional actor had equipped me for this question. It changed everything — how I regarded myself as an actor, how I regarded fellow artists, what I expected from myself and others. This question has guided me ever since. It’s the question I ask of every artist I work with, actor or otherwise, as a director on Fight With a Stick projects. Norman loomed large for me. Looms large. We went through some intense adventures together. Now he’s on the biggest adventure of all. 

Alex Lazaridis Ferguson

******************

My condolences to Lorna, the family and all of Norman’s loved ones. And I know that there were many people from around the world that look loved him deeply. I didn't know Norman well but I was struck by his kindness, generosity and marvellous sense of humour. I admired Norman for his broad knowledge of creative engagements and how he brought people together. When I met with him before a trip to Australia, he spent time sharing his insights as well as connections and made many introductions via email. Norman was a beautiful force of nature. May his memory be a blessing.

Randy Lee Cutler

******************

I always loved how you could depend on running into Norman everywhere, and he always had time for a lovely chat - it seemed like he had an unending supply of time for everyone. I am so grateful for the gift of time with him. I send so much love to Lorna, and wish that I could gift you some of the time I had, just so you could have a little bit more.
He’s out there somewhere in the universe telling stories about cab-driving days and good plays.

Miranda Huron

******************

Such a profound loss.

That’s all.

Namaste. 

******************

I remember a man who was never afraid to say what he thought. Someone who was wickedly smart and witty. I can see his smile now and hear his laugh with those twinkly eyes. He was a visionary and played a huge part in how Vancouver’s art scene developed over the years. He said to me that he never left, which I believe was his way of showing his commitment to art-making here. We went to SFU together in the late 80s, and I enjoyed teasing him that he looked so much older than me. I have enjoyed many drinks and meals with him over the years, and he never failed to make me smile and laugh. But he loved shocking me, as he was able to do frequently, mainly because he spoke his mind. Maybe I can take a bit of that Norman with me as I speak up in tough situations. Norman will be now directing some celestial chorus. At last, he doesn’t have to wait for Godot. My love to Lorna and all the family. 

Jai Djwa

******************

This is terribly distressing news, all my love to Lorna and the family. Since meeting Norman late night at the Edinburgh festival twenty years ago, he had been a great friend. I loved my time in Vancouver working with him on ‘San Diego’ and would look forward to seeing him on his visits to London. I will treasure the fact we managed to meet up in LA last year and I remember being so touched he seemed to take genuine pride in seeing the show I worked on there. We spent a lovely day together taking a bus to The Museum Of Jurassic Technology and basically just hanging out together for the first time in several years. Love you, Norm, and thanks for your friendship. 

Nick Powell

******************

Lorna and family, my deepest condolences. Norman always lit up every room I shared with him and every conversation we had. He would tease me often, truly listen, and sometimes prod me or share something he’d learned about art or business. For some reason the moment that comes back to me most right now is from the send-off party when he was leaving PuSh. He pulled me aside and asked if I could show him how to erase his laptop, and I started to just do the steps myself. At the last button press I looked at him and said “This is it, are you sure?” and he smiled and said “Yep, it’s time”. I feel the weight of his loss, and lucky to be one of the hands holding up what he started. Thank you, Norman.

Todd Sieling

******************

To Lorna and family, I send my condolences and prayers. As a fundraiser, it’s easy to feel left out, especially when you are surrounded by creatives. Norman always made me feel welcome and allowed me to be creative in my work. PuSh remains one of my fondest memories, and is a truly unique and special festival. It was a privilege to help bring support to PuSh and, by extension, the Vancouver theatre community. Norman embraced a grassroots approach, introducing Vancouver not just to challenging and exciting international work, but to its own remarkable smaller theatre collectives. He was a champion for raising visibility of wonderful artists. I enjoyed working with Norman and reminding him to eat lunch. He was kind and thoughtful and a wonderfully collaborative leader.

Josh Bowman

******************

Oh dear, this was certainly unexpected news. I remember being with Norman at a few international festivals and appreciated how invested he was with all the work that was being presented. My best to all of you in this sad space.

Olga Garay-English

******************

When I first started at the Fringe Festival, Norman and I had coffee and he was so kind to me as I started my leadership career. He really encouraged me to look for ways to curate the festival “from the side”. That piece of advice really stuck with me throughout my time there and led to a lot of artist development and community connecting. His notion of curation was I think really rooted in the etymology of the word - to care. That always stuck with me and his caring has made such an indelible mark on so many of us. 

David Jordan

******************

I have always admired Norman’s leadership and contributions across the whole spectrum of arts and culture in this city. He was everywhere and knew everyone, and had a long long history with basically every issue, so he could always bring context, and it was always sharp and smart and generous and grounded. He was as quick to laugh as he was quick to call bullshit. We will all miss him so much. 

Kate Armstrong

******************

Dear everyone, what loss we share, I am so sorry for this news. So kind, Norman, and so wonderfully eager for experiences we could all share. At a conference once, we sat down at Norman’s invitation. We spoke for hours, and while I knew there were numerous meetings he was foregoing, we continued - because we were speaking of care, of making community, of ways our work is challenge and also learning and also love. I was in a rough spot and Norman deeply considered that, wanted to share perspective and offer guidance through. I remain deeply thankful for this moment and hope to share his kindness forward. 

Emily Johnson

******************

My heart is heavy with this news, sending much love and strength to Lorna, Dani and the Armour Family at this time. What an incredible energy, passionate champion, generous arts believer and can-do all-round human we had in Norman. The world was full of support and possibilities with Norman in your camp from the otherside of the world. Missing him hard already.

Love

Penny Miles

Melbourne, Australia

*****************

I’m so so sad to hear this news. Norman, Annette and I had the best,  wittiest, most insightful, free ranging conversations over a couple of years about theatre for young audiences and the rest. He made a huge difference to my approach to our Sector since first meeting him at APAM - he actually wanted to talk about the art. He spent time finding out about people He made good relationships, loved friendship, allyship, and always had genuine curiosity in our conversations. Funny, kind and incredibly supportive. So much love to your memory and deepest sympathy to the family.

Sue Giles 

******************

Kind, smart, gentle Norman will be missed greatly.

Jim Weiner

******************

Amongst the many forms of our connection, I will never forget how many meaningful meals Norman and I shared; where we ideated upon how else we might see change, for the better, in our community. 

We dreamed about new ways to strengthen the fabric of social capacities for growth and artful exchange.

I was so fortunate to benefit from his counsel over many years—about whether or not I should pursue one program or another. 

About the intricacies of being human and making artwork so tenderly with the most vulnerable of our tools: our ideas. 

About what used to be and all the good that was to come. 

About what roles and responsibilities we might hold in this coming future.

We relished in our friendship across age, times, and experiences.

And in our conversations, I was always impressed by Norman's knack for remembering people and events by their geographic location. 

Then, I found out he used to be a taxi driver before he studied at SFU. 

It’s clear that the lines and routes and pathways of his life have brought so many people together. 

He was passionately relentless and relentlessly passionate. 

‘Missing’ and ‘longing’ permeate so many facets of life these days, for so many people and communities. 

It is experienced feelingly and slowly. And sometimes suddenly.

It comes in waves.

I was lucky to be able to tell Norman that I love him when I last saw him in August. 

And I’ll forever keep him in memory when I think of love and learning.

Milton Lim

[2023.11.20]

******************

Norman, you were the very best colleague, friend, and leader. Kind, generous, caring, and embracing. Your work touched so many– and your legacy will live on in all of us who had the pleasure and honor to know and work with you. I learned so much from you. 

The last time Norman and I spoke in person was at the end of the 2022 Western Arts Alliance conference in Calgary. On this occasion, we discovered our shared love of Mary Margaret O’Hara. Norman told the story of Miss O’Hara’s ill-fated concert at PuSh, and despite the trauma of that concert (maybe because of it), he remained a steadfast fan of her work.  So here’s Anew Day by Mary Margaret O’Hara for Norman. 

To Norman’s family, friends, and colleagues, my deepest condolences.

Tim Wilson

Portland, OR

******************

I’m so sorry to get your news about Norman. Although I hadn’t seen him recently, I did work with him in Vancouver in the early days of setting up the PUSH festival and I know what a visionary he was. 

I also know he had so many extraordinary friendships built over the years with his signature loving care and kindness. I know those to whom he was close will find this a very difficult time indeed.

On behalf of those of us here in Ontario who knew and loved him, we offer our deepest condolences. 

Peace and fire,

Catherine O’Grady

******************

Norman was the soul of generosity. He would be ever ready to share knowledge, experience and help if or when he could. I’m going to miss you my friend! 

Govin Ruben

******************

Norman’s deep kindness and passion for our industry cannot be understated. Always a sparkle in the eye and a great story to share, with a legacy that extends across the globe… I feel so fortunate to have crossed paths and benefited from his wisdom and guidance. Sincere condolences to the family.

Katy Green Loughrey

Sydney, AUS

******************

What I’ll remember most about Norman will be his passion for the arts, generosity in helping others and his sense of humour. Norman was a co-worker who kept in touch, did check-ins (especially during the various stages of lockdowns), spoke freely and passionately, yet always with wit and twinkle in his eyes. I will miss his candour, his enveloping energy and aura. I will miss the twinkles in his eyes. Here’s to you and forever, Mr Armour, my friend! 

Grey Yeo

Norman was whip smart, generous and deeply knowledgeable about the arts in all its many guises. I never got to meet Norman in person but we had a great 2D relationship online and his ability to support, encourage and inspire was felt through the screen and the timezones. He is remembered by so many so fondly and it was great to be in his orbit, even if only for too short a time. Big love to all that loved him and that he clearly loved.

Mikala Tai

******************

I sang karaoke once with Norman; we sang “Life on Mars” by David Bowie. His singing voice was surprisingly bizarre that night – a comical scream-warble that had me in stitches. I kept up, but barely. As it turns out we both knew every word of that song.

On the surface of things you’d think we had little in common but once in a while we would find these moments of surprising connection. He was a busy guy, always restless and curious, but he was also so deeply human, and he loved things and people and music and life in a way that I wanted to be around, and to share. He taught me a lot without even knowing it. I realize I have been watching his way of putting himself into his work, leading with instinct and humanity and that restless curiosity, and I’ve tried to adapt that for my own work and the things that are important to me. I’m really glad I was able to tell him how much I loved him. We don’t get to hold the hands of our mentors that often, and Norman let me hold his.

The last time I saw him I asked what he was listening to, and Bowie’s “Fill Your Heart” was top of the list, alongside The Weight and a gorgeous piece by Cris Derksen. I went home and listened to Hunky Dory, that whole wonderful album, and I’m listening to it now. “Fill Your Heart” was never my favourite track, but there is a charming warble to it:

Just remember
Lovers never lose

'Cause they are free of thoughts unpure
And of thoughts unkind
Gentleness clears the soul
Love cleans the mind
And makes it free

You are so deeply loved, Norman. May you be free.

Vanessa Kwan

******************

What a sad, sad day for each of us as individuals and a painful loss for Vancouver’s arts scene. My deepest condolences to Lorna, Dani and family. Only last night I reached out to Norman via email (alas, too late) and, well, here it what I shared, more or less as I sent it:

It is a quirky bit of trivia about Norman; that is, his face is on the wall of my office.  Here’s why: in 2018, when I was invited to be part of the Banff Centre’s Cultural Leadership program, our very first bit of pre-course homework was to: “Map your Arts-Leadership Influences. Draw, make a collage, or otherwise represent with images and text your arts-leadership lineage and hoped-for progeny (so to speak) in the form of a “family tree” or “influence map”.   

The arts-leadership influences I could come up with to fulfill my assignment included famous thinkers, pop culture icons, celebrated artists, and a handful of local arts leaders like Norman that I have been fortunate enough to have worked with in some capacity. 

The resulting “influence map” hangs near my desk. Reading it bottom to top (so, chronologically: childhood to 2018) and following my colour-coded bubble categories of ideas, the face and name of Norman Armour sits in the upper right quadrant, at the intersection of Community, DIY and Urbanism, but also aside Design, slightly above Humour and perhaps, admittedly now that I look at it now, just a little too off the side of Critical Thinking, Feminism, Marxism.  

The hoped-for progeny: Artful Cities. 

All that is to say that I am immensely grateful to have known Norman and to be influenced by his cultural leadership: determined and intentional, daring to trust that smart and innovative artists and art forms will build thoughtful, risk-tolerant audiences and spark meaningful conversations that we might not otherwise realize we needed. l

Thank you, Norman.

Liesl Jauk

******************

Norman made a huge impression on me from the moment I first encountered him at SFU (myself a young university student about to enter the acting program) - as he played the wonderfully drooling character Lucky in a memorable (1985?) SFU production of Waiting for Godot. He always represented experimentation and risk-taking for me from that point forward, and never wavered. Ever kind. Ever curious. A master of integrity. Norman, you will be so missed, but I am so grateful to have had you as an example, colleague, inspiration, and friend. Rest well.

Kate Hutchinson

******************

This is so so sad. I’ve known Norman for decades but only recently did we bond over grant writing and art making in a real way. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with him and all that he did for our arts community all over the world. Heartbreak. All my love.

Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg (Vancouver)

******************

The loss is so profound, it is hard to know where to start. So many of my favorite memories have Norman in them; countless trips across the country and beyond, Edinburgh, Italy, Slovenia, Prague, Budapest – the list is long. Late night festival planning sessions, theatre going – I couldn’t count how many shows we saw together. Fabulous meals with incredible conversation and too many vespers to count. I loved him dearly and will miss him with all my heart and soul. My love to Lorna and to Norman’s family. And as well to Dani and to all of you in this massive theatre family around the world who were all part of Norman’s life. A life so well lived and so loved by so many. 

Ann Connors 

******************

To Lorna and Norman’s family: all my love and condolences to you. 

I know Norman from the PuSh world, as so many of us do. But our friendship extended far beyond that in both time and depth. Norman had an infectious passion about him - for people, art, theatre, culture, basketball, community. I remember him once telling me that the trick to Vancouver is to understand that a long runway is required to make people see your dream. He spent years actualizing dreams - a dream of the way a city could come together to celebrate local artists and also artists from around the world - and to create new dreams out of that. 

Norman saw something in me that I’m not even sure I saw in myself, and he empowered me to join him along for the ride of actualizing his dreams. He did that for so many others. He really loved people and wanted them to see their own beauty and power. 

It was an honour of a life to know him. I will miss him profoundly. 

Mira Oreck 

******************

Ah, our dear Norman. He was a leader who influenced and boosted many of us in the theatre world. His generous invitation for me to move the Neworld office from my home into a desk in Rumble’s offices was just the beginning of our friendship and collaboration. Producing Crime and Punishment at PuSh was a hi-light. Norman was a masterful producer. A maestro! Acting together in True Lies at the Fringe - how we laughed together. He was such a lovely actor. And the care with which he directed me in Hedda Gabler gave me the gift of one of the best performances of my life. How fortunate I am to have spent some time reminiscing with him just a few days ago. Lorna, and all Norman’s loved ones - I don’t have to tell you his impact. He was a giant and an icon. I will miss him dearly, as we all will. Godspeed you beautiful human. May the stars shine brighter for you joining them.  

Camyar Chaichian

*****************

I am so grateful to have had moments of time shared with a kind, charismatic and generous friend and colleague who lived, loved  and dedicated a life of living in the technicolor. May Norman’s memory be a blessing. Sending deep condolences to all those who loved him. 

Zohar Spatz

*****************

Dear Lorna and Norman’s loved ones: 

I am so sorry for your loss. I only knew Norman relatively recently - in comparison to the majority of folks from the performing arts field. Once we were finally introduced, we had an immediate warm, connection. Whenever we traveled to the same international location, we always managed to get a drink or a quick bite to eat. We could nerd-out over international exchange and indulge in silliness in the same breath. It was always a joy to see Norman. His passing is a massive loss for the performing arts field. And, he left his imprint in each of us. My heart breaks for you all. I am sending my condolences and well wishes in this time of mourning. May Norman’s memory always be a blessing.

With much love, Laura Colby (Brooklyn, NY)

*****************

I knew of Norman’s profound impact on the arts community before I moved out here from Toronto. I had admired, from afar, and from the stories of my colleagues the kindness, vision, and innovation of an incredible artist and arts leader. I only got to know Norman, personally, very recently when he and I bonded over a shared love for frisbee. I learned that he had initially come out to the west coast initially as a professional ultimate frisbee player. We spent a few very hot summer days in East Van tossing a frisbee around in the park as he shared so much wisdom and insight into the artistic community, while asking me inquisitive questions about my own thoughts and desires. I always admired how he didn’t seek to solve any of the challenges I had, but provided space for me to just be in a sort of turmoil while reflecting some kind of genuine insight into a way forward. I’m grateful for the short time I got to spend with him out in the sun. I’ll miss him dearly, and won’t easily forget the impact he made on me and on everyone around him.

Brian Postalian

*****************

To Lorna and all of Norman’s family and dear ones

We have lost a beautiful man, a bright star.  Norman brought so much to every situation -- honesty, intelligence, great good humour, deep care, high energy, strong values, and clear vision.  He made our city and our world a better place.  I feel so very privileged to have had him and Lorna in my life since meeting them through the big PuSh family that he created.  Norman asked good questions, listened well, and could talk until the cows came home.  He was respected and much loved by me and so many.  We will have to continue to carry out his plans on the strength of our shared and much cherished memories of all that we learned from him.  Travel well dear friend. 

Love and light,  Jane Brindley

*****************

I join a chorus of folks deeply mourning Norman’s loss. It is a rare thing to be in the witness of greatness - Norman was great, in every sense of the word. His infectious laugh, his relentless interest in the rigour of artistic practice and collaboration, his unyielding belief in imagination and his absolute passion in young people were traits I have personally learnt from and hope to carry forward. We worked in an intergenerational team at the Australia Council, with Norman and I in the ends of that spectrum, but Norman always walked his wisdom with such grace and openness. I will miss him dearly, and hope to walk in the footsteps of a personalised PD itinerary in Canada that he made for me specially one day.

My love to everyone who knew him and loved him. The world is dimmer for losing his light. 

Nithya Nagarajan 

*****************

Norman’s generosity, vision, kindness, justice, artistry and humour was one of a kind. He offered support and guidance, and he asked for it too. I will miss his friendship felt from across the globe, and I’m forever grateful for his hospitality – in Vancouver, in New York, and in Australia – always met with those sparkly eyes, the warmest hug and the greatest commitment to enlivening our world. 

Much love, Simon Abrahams xxx

*****************

Norman brought wisdom, insight and a wicked sense of humour to each and every conversation I shared with him whilst we were colleagues at the Australia Council for the Arts and since. He cared deeply for artists and for his colleagues - and it was an absolute joy and privilege to be in his orbit.

I send an abundance of love and light to his nearest and dearest at this time. May each of us continue to take strength by remembering how good it felt to be bathed by the ripples and waves that his energy, cheekiness and enthusiasm brought us.

Our industry across continents and borders is forever richer for Norman and the love and warmth he brought to his work.

Love, Jeremy Smith

******************

I join with others in mourning and remembering the beautiful Norman Armour. His intelligence, passion and generosity touched so many people, and I count myself lucky to be one of them. His support and belief in the work of artists was profound. He opened doors and welcomed you in. I remember when he was first considering programming my work, he said to my producer, ‘Is she an asshole? I don’t work with assholes.’ It seemed strange (and funny) at the time. In the years since, however, this has stayed with me as an invaluable lesson. Work with people whose values you share, people who are driven by something beyond themselves. Work to make good things happen. Norman did that, in spades!. Thanks Norman. You will be missed. My deepest condolences to Norman’s loved ones.

All my love,

Tamara Saulwick xxx

******************

Norman was such a cool cat. A mentor with ingenious wisdom, experience, and humour. And the kindest human. I will miss our conversations on art, strategy, and life, always delivered with a twinkle in his eye, and a cheerful laugh. I will miss our catch-ups and all the learnings imparted and all those hilarious moments shared. Norman, you will be missed ! Sending my love to him and all closest to him. 

Thea-Mai Baumann 

******************

Lorna, Dani and the Armour Family – my heart is so heavy for your loss.

I didn’t know when I met him that Norman and I would be candidates for almost 20 years of friendship, though I could perhaps have guessed, mostly because of how much we made each other laugh.  His passion for people, for art and for conversation was so inspiring and infectious and I adored his playful and unending shit-stirring, mostly of me, but also of those who hit his bullshit radar. His could be a wicked sense of humour and I delighted in it.

I am grateful that we recently shared time as colleagues. And I am also grateful for the amazing experiences we shared when I was presenting work at PuSh (the baby eagle feathers Norman!)

Goodbye my dear friend, I will miss you even more now xx 

Sarah Greentree

******************

When you lose an old friend, who also happens to have been a gifted superconductor, catalyst and motivator of people, art, and community during his lifetime, it takes time to come to terms.   

I’m deeply grateful to have visited with Norman this past summer in Toronto at an inspired backyard lunch organized by his brother Rob. It was an auspicious gathering where each invited friend seemed as fascinating and accomplished as the guest of honour himself. Many were drawn from the world of theatre, now leading their own projects and companies. Each had a story to tell of how Norman had in some pivotal way, graced the arc of their professional lives.

I knew him differently, along far more of an occasional orbit. My friendship with Norm began 50 years ago when we were both self-styled schoolboy rebels at Upper Canada in Toronto. He introduced me to the dark arts of freestyle frisbee, an outsider fringe sport at which he was both serious and gifted. He had an athlete’s strength leavened with a Zen-like grace to his movements. We’d spend hours tossing a precisely weighted disc back and forth, daring each other with ever more complex arrays of spins, throws, and twists, all riding on a cushion of air. There was something magical in the exchange, to float, suspend and spin back time.   

We fell out of touch until ten years ago. While reconnecting over lunch, I had a simple epiphany and told him, “There’s no friend like an old friend”. It’s like you know each other through the bones. Living in different cities, I’d see Norman only on occasion. I look back now on each interaction as something precious. When I came to visit him in Vancouver, he seemed to drop everything to have lunch or show me around. 

When the world first opened up after the nightmare of COVID less than two years ago, we put together a plan. Norman flew to Toronto to visit brother Rob on a mission to see Nick Cave perform at Massey Hall. Cave was one of Norman’s most revered artists. We all met up for Japanese dinner beforehand with my wife Troy and documentary filmmaker Peter Mettler, another old friend of Norman’s.

Emerging from our pandemic shells, the concert took on a higher gravitas like the life-changing concerts of youth. Nick Cave put on an absolutely spellbinding show, strutting the stage like an scarecrow evangelist with a chorus of gospel back-up singers and musical partner Warren Ellis, fortifying the tunes. 

We stumbled out of the show elated to find a bar in Toronto still open on a Monday night, no sure thing. We wandered into the Windsor Arms where indeed the bar was open and Norman was in his element, conversing with friends and peeling back the years over an Old-Fashioned. That’s where the black and white photo is taken of a once-in-a-lifetime never again moment. You never realize it at the time. 

I learned something from Norman about the art of gatherings. Something he clearly did so well. And they can happen at any size or scale. Today, I broke through to reach out to another old friend of both Norman and myself, from all those years ago. We took time to tell stories and mark his passing because attention must be paid.   

A highlight of that concert was Cave’s live rendition of ‘Cosmic Dancer’ by T.Rex. It seems the right music to honour a true friend who danced his way in and out of life. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/3ZVIfgnDciwkuKHLTWTyhJ

My deepest condolences to Lorna, his family tribe and his super-connected hive of friends from around the world.

Tony Spencer

******************

To Lorna and family… Deeply saddened to hear this news. I was ever hopeful that there would be a different outcome and all would continue as usual. A loss to the art world. I hope he was at peace. Xxx 

Esther e.Rausenberg

******************

This is a sad, sad day. We have a giant hole in our community. And for us, a dear friend is gone, and we will miss him. Thank you Norman for your vision for PuSh, your friendship and for so much more. All our love to you Lorna.

Don McGlashan and Ann McDonell

******************

My deepest condolences to Norman’s family. I only met Norman in 2018 when we both were appointed to the BC Arts Council. I knew from the first morning of the first meeting that this  man was a force in the theatre world and I wanted to know him better! He allowed me to become a distant colleague and I thank him for listening to me and mentoring me on my project. He gave freely of his time and experience. I am forever grateful The arts community  has lost an epic supporter and visionary, a very cool human. Rest in peace and I hope the show is awesome where you are. 

Pat Henman, Nelson, BC

******************

Norman’s huge heart, sharp eye, wit ,ability to both encourage and positively challenge at the same time ,crazy smile, friendship and profound love for every aspect of performance will always live with me. He changed the cultural landscape in Vancouver. I feel privileged to have known him.

Love to Lorna, his family and all of those he touched with his life.

Kathryn Shaw

******************

I’m just in the middle of making a new work about the indigenous Filipino notion of Kapwa, in collaboration with Hazel Venzon, who I met because of Norman. Kapwa are those others that live inside yourself, reminding us that our humanity is a shared experience. The dedication is: “To Norman, without you we are nothing.” Norman’s support of my (and everyone else’s) work over the years has been absolutely crucial. There really was nobody else quite like him. He was encouraging and supportive, but also always critical in the best way. If it were not for him, things would have gone very differently for me and all the others he inspired and supported. I’m very sad that I didn’t tell him about the dedication, as it was on my mind all last week. Lesson learned. Love to Lorna and everyone in Vancouver who were lucky enough to have him on the daily. I’ll always remember the Rule of Norman: Don’t be an asshole. What more do you need? 

Xo Darren O’Donnell 

******************

I met Norman through the PuSh festival's partnership with SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs. Norman, with his trademark blazer and scarf, was a common sight in the Woodward's office for many years. When Norman spoke about his planned projects, he lit up in that rare way that people only do when they truly love what they do. He believed that this city deserved interesting and provocative work.

Norman was generous with his acquaintances - I can't remember a single exchange where he didn't ask me, with interest, what I was working on. He was genuinely curious about the creations and lives of the younger artists and producers that he worked with. Norman not only leaves a legacy of how to live a meaningful life in the arts, but a blueprint of how to mentor future generations.

My deepest condolences to all of those who loved him.

Leanne Prain, Vancouver BC

*****************

I first met Norman early in my career, while visiting Vancouver. He’d agreed to meet me to chat about an artist I was working with, but our conversation quickly turned to a million other things. He was an exciting interlocutor, and I was struck by his enthusiasm to engage with me despite the enormous gap in experience. During this meeting, he was generous without being condescending, keen for my hot takes (!) and was one of the first people who spoke openly to me about producing as a creative, lifelong practice. Over the years, we ended up working on numerous projects and I’ve thought about this first meeting often as a guiding example of how to remain accessible, humble, inspired, curious and committed. Thankyou Norman for these lessons, and much more. Sending love to his family, friends and extended community x

Freya Waterson, Australia

******************

I am so sorry for this sorry business, to Norman’s family, friends, peers, mentees and community in Vancouver and abroad, but in particular the First Nations performing arts communities in Australia. Norman invited me to witness PuSh festival strategic planning in 2014 when I was living in Turtle Island working with Margo Kane at the Talking Stick Festival. Since then, for almost a decade we have been collaborating on ideas for greater mobilisation of First Nations performing arts from Australia to North America and the reciprocal nature of this. What I loved most about Norman was his ability to listen deeply to Elders and community and support our aspirations for self determination. He was rigorous and challenging, insightful and innovative. He worked alongside us and with us to the end.  I greatly admired him for this, his generosity to BlakDance and the sector, I’m so sad he is gone. What a gift he gave us all.

Merindah Donnelly, Australia 

*****************

Goodbye, dear man. Your support for independent art was everything. Your cool was everything. Your friendship was everything. You lifted artists up with such loyalty and intelligence and vision. You changed the world for the better. I cite PuSh as the festival of all festivals - driven by your boundless energy, collective endeavour and your LOVE. I see you in so many people’s work. I will keep seeing you. Thanks for everything. 

Tim Crouch, Brighton, UK

******************

Dear friends and family, my deep condolences for this loss of an incredible force and talent in the international performing arts scene. He will remain in my memory as someone deeply committed, curious and adventurous in what he saw, discussed, treasured and shared, while being kind and attentive to details. In that sense I was very honored to be invited with my piece ‘Blind Cinema’ to Vancouver for the PUSH International Performing Arts Festival in 2018. To witness a programmers’ clarity in why and how they put together a programme for a festival is always inspiring and makes it all the more pleasurable to be part of someone’s vision. What a full life he had, may he now rest in peace, and in many people’s hearts. With best wishes, 

Britt Hatzius, Germany

******************

I met Norman when he hired me to do publicity for a Rumble show in 1995. The show was called TABS–not the most marketable title! I could instantly relate to Norman’s attention to detail; we were doing a mailout promoting the show and he was very specific about how the pieces should go in the envelope and where the custom stamp (a graphic of the space shuttle, I think?)  had to be positioned on the page. We crossed paths many more times when I worked at the Cultch, promoting the first incarnation of PuSh: a performance series curated by Norman and Katrina Dunn. Then PuSh became a festival, and for a couple of years I was involved as a freelancer, writing the program guide blurbs for the shows. At one point, we got embroiled in a heated debate over whether to use em-dashes or en-dashes in the copy (em-dashes were correct, but he preferred the look of en-dashes). Norman somehow managed to program this massive international festival, cultivate countless local artists, see all the shows, and still care about an obscure punctuation mark! He will be deeply missed. Big love to Lorna, Norman’s family, Dani and his many friends.  

Kathleen Oliver, Vancouver

******************

Dear Lorna, Dani and the Armour Family,

I only got to know Norman over the past decade - celebrating his final season of the Push Festival and being so warmly welcomed by him - his generosity, intelligence, thoughtfulness  and calm passion for all he did came across so strongly. His voice is resonating in my head today and I am full of sadness. Norman, you believed in this crazy world of the arts and brought us all together to share and not divide - thank you for special times in Vancouver, Edinburgh, CINARS, Canada House London, and wherever our travels took us. You gave so much and will be very missed. With my sincere condolences to you all and to Norman, a shining star is added above looking down on us all - such a loss 

Assis Carreiro, Mistley, England

****************

Lorna, Dani and the Armour Family:

Norman is a visionary. He was my student in Vancouver in the 80’s and I had been alerted about his being older and odd and maybe I shouldn’t cast him in a multiyear project I was launching on the source of disfunction in American families by anthropologist Jules Henry.

I had left the sides to audition with and let the students pick which compelled them. Norman picked the teen girl monologue and nailed it, better than the teen girls in the program. I told him to try the Henry role and he nailed the old guy too. Over the subsequent years I brought him to 4 different US cities to collaborate and inspire, which he always did, even when he was a pain in the butt when I brought Rumble to Atlanta for the Cultural Olympics in 96. He stayed with me in NYC a few years ago and insisted we watch Toronto play Boston in Basketball. He brought me to the Push Festival to do my workshop on adaptation for that extraordinary range of international artists. Push was a mind and life expanding Festival. We went out for a late-night cocktail and did the chats on everything which was his specialty. Still toasting you beloved Norman. Broken hearted

Vinnie In Berlin/NYC. 

*****************

I met Norman in 1987 in, of all places, Boise, Idaho. We were both acting with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, brought there by our mutual teacher, Vinnie Murphy, who had taught me at Tufts and Norman at Simon Fraser. Norman was one of my roommates and we quickly began having impassioned dialogues about theater, which continued on for over three decades. 

That winter, I had this insane idea to start my own Shakespeare company, and invited Norman to come 3,000 miles and across a border to live on the top floor of an un-air conditioned dorm (they called it “the dog’s mouth”) in Albany, earning just $20 a week to rehearse 10 hours a day, playing Friar Laurence and co-directing Two Gentlemen of Verona with me. We performed for free in Washington Park and by the end of the summer we were an ensemble with a real audience. Norman was the elder statesman, a few years older than most of us. But he never behaved as anything other than a team player. 

Norman was a brilliant actor who radiated intelligence and compassion in equal measure. He was a kind and absolutely hilarious human being who loved to laugh as much he loved to see others do the same. He was an intense firebrand who sought always to blaze new pathways, every day, every show, every conversation. 

We worked together the following year at the Sacramento Theatre Company, and then in 1989 he returned to the ASC to play the best Malvolio I’ve ever seen, and the anonymous Duke in Measure for Measure. We played these in repertory, so audiences could see within 48 hours the extraordinary spirit and mind that filled that sinewy body and carried that clarion voice of his as it rang out across the field. I will never forget him weeping tears as he would say, “I will be happy.”

He got so busy after that and eventually stopped acting so he could marshal more global theater artists in the extraordinary festival space he made. I feel beyond fortunate to have been touched by his brilliance at such an early age (I was 20 when we first worked together), and fortunate to have had dinner with him a few years ago and share again his intensity of joy at life, at humanity, at our extraordinary capacity to hold the mirror up to nature. Norman held it so, so well.

******************

I first met Norman in Yokohama in 2018. I remember it’s the last day of TPAM and we sat down for a coffee near the hotel we stayed at. Norman shared a lot about the performing arts scene in Canada, artists and platforms that might be interesting for me to learn more about. I was so grateful for his incredible generosity. After that conversation, I can feel an immediate connection, a genuine connection growing between us. Later during the pandemic, our paths crossed again as we were both working for the Australia Council where I got to share many zoom moments with Norman. I still miss his insights and laughs during these sessions. Our last conversation happened earlier this year at ISPA in New York. We bumped into each other at the Machine Dazzle exhibit and had a brief chat checking in on each other. To me, Norman is such a 幽默谦逊、充满智慧和值得信赖的长辈, humorous, humble, wise and reliable elder that I can turn to whenever needed. I will always miss his authenticity, generosity and wisdom. Thank you and rest well.

Lynn Fu, Shanghai/NYC 

******************

Thank you Dani for letting us know about Norman’s peaceful passing.  Like so many colleagues have noted, we always expected to see Norman at one of our many conferences / gatherings somewhere in the world over the years.  I first met Norman when he was at the Push Festival, and from there he and I had many discussions about international exchanges and sharing ideas about presenting matches, primarily between Australian dance companies and the N. American Marketplace.  I attended several of the various panels he put together at WAA, mostly speaking with artists who were in their beginning stages of international touring.

Norman was always available to answer questions, offer thoughtful advice, and absolutely a one-of-a-kind, caring person, whose many contributions to our Performing Arts Field will always remain. 

Thank you for the opportunity to express our thanks for all he did and condolences to his family.

Yours 

Cathy Pruzan

*****************

Heartfelt condolences to Lorna, Dani & all of Norman’s loved ones.

Norman was a giant in the field and he will be missed dearly. Our paths crossed at various different settings. We first connected when I was the director of performing arts at the Royal Netherlands Embassy and Consulates in NYC and Norman was interested in bringing over a Dutch artist to the Push Festival, but I believe it was at ISPA, and the NYC January Performing Arts madness, that we first met in person. Later, we also both worked towards various international cultural leadership programs. He was a champion for international cultural exchange and he mentioned how interested he was to come and visit us at the Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE) Showcase in Africa sometime. A valuable and knowledgeable link in the international performing arts scene feels lost. We will carry on in his name remembering his passion, his insight and his profound humanness. Much love and strength to you and yours.

Erwin Maas

NYC / Netherlands / Pan-African Creative Exchange (South Africa)

******************

I am so sorry to hear this news. I first met Norman back around 2010 or thereabouts, and it was at his invitation that I attended PUSH Festival for the first time. From then on, I regularly got to see Norman at Fusebox and TBA festivals or various conferences. He was always so incredibly kind and spoke to me with a deep level of respect even though he had way more experience in the field than I did. Norman was always so curious and eager to learn and discuss the work we were seeing- and what we weren’t seeing, and was so generous with his time and his spirit. I will miss his smile and eagerness and am grateful for all the time I got to spend with him over the last decade.  - With love and care to all his family and friends around the world

Sara Nash, Maryland, U.S.

******************

Dear Lorna, Dani and the Armour family - Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. 

Norman was my trusted mentor and dear friend. I had the privilege of working for him during his PuSh days and our relationship only grew stronger from there. He was a marvel. He was larger than life and I admired him greatly - from his unwavering passion for the arts to his infectious enthusiasm for the causes and people he championed, from his passionate ‘F’ bombs dropped during meetings to his uncanny ability to know exactly when I needed to hear his encouraging words. I carry countless fond memories of our time spent together but I will always treasure our breakfast dates, happy hour meetups, the wisdom he imparted, his insatiable curiosity - always peppering me with questions during our mentoring sessions, his unabashed reviews of shows - stage or screen, his confidence and belief in me as an entrepreneur, and his caring, supportive outreach during my personal grief when my marriage was falling apart during Covid. Norman was an extraordinary person who has left an indelible mark on the arts and cultural sector in this country and beyond; his legacy will be everlasting. I am so proud and grateful to have known him and I will miss him dearly. If there is anything I can do by way of support, contribution or otherwise in the days and weeks ahead, please do not hesitate to let me know. 

With much love, Laura Murray

******************

Just last week I had been listening to Norman’s podcast with Am Johal on Below the Radar, so it is difficult to come to terms with that eloquent voice being stilled.

As everyone knows, Norman was a talker and, boy, could he go on! But, really, it was just a measure of his passion for his subject. And when that passion was contemporary performance, it behooved you to give him your undivided attention.

There was a tic in his speech that Norman would frequently repeat. At the end of a long description or peroration, he would often end by saying “and such.” When, as a member of the PuSh board, I was first getting to know him, I frequently wanted to say, “And such, what?” But eventually I realized that this was Norman’s way of inviting you into the conversation: in order to take up the thread by filling in that “such” with your own thoughts and perspective or by prompting Norman to elaborate with another question. In such cases the word is functioning, grammatically, as a determiner or a predeterminer: referring to what has just been mentioned or gesturing to what is about to be mentioned.

But there is another way in which the word operates, as when we want to emphasize a quality of greatness.

Norman was such a man, and through his work and life he gave us all such times.

My deepest condolences to Lorna and Norman’s family, and my deep gratitude to his caregivers,

Peter Dickinson

******************

To the dear loved ones of Norman (knowing this is an enormous circle of family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances), my condolences to you all.

Like many, I was fortunate to have the pleasure of recurring reunions with Norman in various corners of the globe, in search of artists who make the world more human and more connected. He was always in my experience just that—a connector—and a generous and thoughtful one, at that. He was an advocate for so many of us, often in ways that only revealed themselves later when suddenly a process would include you. I’ll miss his warmth and humor, while treasuring his legendary commitment and drive. May his big-hearted embrace of art, the people who make it, the people who create community with it, and the audiences who experience it live in each of us.

With love,

Todd Wetzel 

Purdue University/West Lafayette,

Indiana/USA

******************

Norman came into my life officially in 2019, when I came to understand my limitations as a producer. The project I was working on,  a verbatim drama based on 120 interviews of folks who lived through the first 15 years of the AIDS pandemic, deserved as thorough a production and as large an audience as I could muster, and I knew I needed help. I was, of course very aware of his work with Rumble and PUSH, but we didn’t know each other, and I didn’t expect that he would dive in so wholeheartedly to the project. My best hope was that he would help me to connect with someone who could support our effort. Well, Norman couldn’t help himself, and found himself producing In My Day with me and Cameron at Zee Zee. This experience was so very meaningful.  I learned, and laughed, teased and was teased, and in the end made something we were all very proud of. He was always very clear with me about some of my more glaring miscues, which I have benefited from, and he expected our work to be the best we could manage. This expectation set the tone for our entire team. I am forever grateful for this, and the meals, and the drinks, and the friendship. Much love to the Armours and Lorna, Dani, and all who loved Norman. I sure did. 

rick waines

******************

I knew Norman first through Lorna. I remember, she asked me into a project and shared this funny story about how they’d had a chat together about something I wrote in a recent essay. They had what I can only imagine as a mock argument about whether one or the other might ask me to contribute some writing, excited by some combination of a turn of phrase I’d made in my attempt to offer a plain-spoken reader friendly text. Their simple moment of appreciation carried a young version of me onward - I never forgot this simple act of noticing! Over the years, I got to engage with Norman a little more. We’d have a chat here and there at some PuSh event or another. We collaborated in a simple way, to share a venue for a PuSh production. His energy and enthusiasm always seemed as if it had no horizon. He just had this ability to make things happen, to work with life and draw it out, and in so doing, to draw people together.  When we hosted Daniel Fish’s Eternal, in 2016 at Western Front, I remember the incredible depth Norman brought when he shared his admiration for the performers. His strong cultural leadership went hand in hand with his genuine awe for others. He was funny and smart, encouraging and curious.

As someone who was only ever on one of the outer rings of his massive orbit, I will miss the warmth, possibility, charisma and joy he brought to this world and to all of those who shared a path with him, near and far. Deep heartfelt sympathy to Lorna, with so much love 

Allison Collins 

******************

I remember shortly after I moved to Vancouver to work at the venerable Western Front, someone said to me, if you want to witness performance that truly pushes the bounds, you need to see PuSH Festival. I soon met the head of this festival–Norman–and was captivated by the energy and this idea that everything–and anywhere–can be a stage. Every time I encountered him he was in the midst of incredible projects, buoyed by the potential of art and its encounters, but what I also found equally inspiring was his relationship with Lorna. Lorna shared with me how when they were travelling, that they would cook together over Skype. Not talking, just sharing space and sharing time. As a couple, it was so easy to see how their fierce intellect and generosity marked everything they did together. I know that Lorna will carry this on as she always has. The last time we saw each other in person was sitting atop a bit of concrete in Campbelltown, Australia, sharing a boxed lunch and hearing about Norm’s new role building bridges between Australia and the rest of the world. And a bridge builder he was. We send much love and honor of Norm’s memory. 

Candice Hopkins and Raven Chacon

******************

Norman’s belief that the world could come to Vancouver and Vancouver could go to the world broadened all of our scopes as Westcoast artists. I first encountered him as an actor, actually, he was in Java Life, and I thought “who is this?! He is the epitome of cool!” From that point on, I endeavored to watch whatever he directed. His fierce intelligence and rigor inspire me to this day. He was kind enough to have coffee with me a couple of times and offer his insight, advice and encouragement and gave me international contacts. I sat on a few juries with him. There was a situation where he stood up for me - I will never forget it. He said what needed to be said and he did what needed to be done. Not many can claim that. What a wonderful human and brilliant artist. Love to you, Lorna, Dani and the Armour family

Lucia Frangione

******************

I always admired the way Norman let us form our own opinions of the work. I remember once when I was working on the festival, trying to figure out what to see. Norman says “Just go, doesn’t matter if you don’t like it or you love it the point is to go see as much as possible!” In a world where there was such a pressure to love the work as a way of supporting it, Norman always said “Love what you Love, Hate what you hate”

Late Fragment Raymond Carver

******************

It is confusing to feel such sadness and gratitude at the same time. Sadness because of how much Norman is already so deeply missed and gratitude for all that we gained from knowing him. Norman was such a supportive, imaginative, and big-thinking person. I hope that each of us can take those wonderful traits and carry them forward - to aim to be as generous with others as he was. My heartfelt condolences to Lorna (the apple of his eye), family members, and to all those amazing artists that he touched so profoundly.

Barbara Cole

******************

And did you get what

you wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

To call myself beloved, to feel myself

beloved on the earth.

Well Norman you certainly did all that and then some. 

Trevor Battye

******************

Sending warm thoughts to Norman's family, all his nearest and dearest. I will always remember his sense of playfulness. Although I didn’t run into him often, I had known him since Grade 1. Who knew then, that he would become a tremendous force, for the creative arts in Vancouver.

Daphne Osoba

******************

Norman was in one of my first plays here in Vancouver called Java Life. He didn’t entirely like the direction and told me if I ever wrote something more “challenging” he’d be interested in directing. So I wrote “Soulless”. He directed it brilliantly. It received a bunch of Jessie nominations and a second and third production. We never disagreed with any changes or direction. But I needed an explanation of his ending of my play because he didn’t want me writing too much dialogue or anything really. The characters on stage just held on to a moment of time in the light before the lights went down. I asked him why. He turned to me and said “I think you get it, don’t you?”  Thanks Norman. I don’t even have to think about it. Find the light. It’s brief. Yup. Will miss you terribly.

******************

Very sorry to hear this sad news, there are many knowledgeable friends of the arts but not so many who take the bull by the horns and make things happen, he was one of the good ones and he’ll be widely missed. Much love to his friends and family 

Nou Dadoun

******************

So very sorry to hear this news. I greatly enjoyed working with Norman in various capacities, and boards, etc over the years - most actively on Granville Island in the beginning days of the PUSH festival. Norman was so wildly passionate, and such a dedicated advocate for the arts and artists - I loved our many lively discussions - which inevitably ended up in laughter and a beer. I was always in awe of his intelligence and eloquence.   My heartfelt condolences to his family and those closest to him - and to all of us who have lost a shining light in the arts world.  

Jan Carley 

******************

It’s hard to imagine that we won’t again see Norman’s beaming face, or encounter his gentle presence at arts gatherings, festivals, and theatre foyers around the world. Thank you Norman for inviting me to Push Festival as a delegate, where I had the chance to first meet you - what a wonderful festival you had turned it into, where artists were so valued and celebrated, and audiences inspired and challenged. I’m so grateful that just 18 months ago you and I had a chance to sit down in a pub at the Brighton Festival and just talk together. I’ll treasure that memory of the last time I saw you. You were doing what you always did - encouraging, listening, enthusing. You will be sorely missed, and always remembered, by so many. Sending much love and strength to the wonderful Dani, and to all Norman’s friends and family around the world grieving his loss.

Simon Hinton

Wollongong, Australia

******************

I loved that guy so much. He was brilliant, funny and tenacious and he will be deeply missed by the arts community. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with him as an actor, a board member, and as a programmer who always had time to give me advice when I was mapping out my festival plan. Rest well, dear Norman. And lots of love to Lorna  Xoxoxo 

Teri Snelgrove

******************

I met Norman in the summer of 1988 when I was invited to go up to Albany, NY for the summer to serve as production stage manager for the Actor’s Shakespeare Company, the brainchild of John Plummer and a group of some of the most talented, creative people I’ve ever met – including, and perhaps especially, Norman. Aside from being an amazing actor, he was just, well, so freaking sweet and kind. We did not keep in touch after that summer, but I remember beaming while watching the film, “Capote” when I saw him walk on near the end. We connected on Facebook a year or two ago, and it was so lovely to just be reconnected. My deepest condolences to his family and closer friends. 

Elizabeth Schroeder

******************

It is hard to imagine a world without the creative force and charisma of Norman Armour–his stamina; his intellect; imagination; his commitment to make things happen; and his dedication to risk taking and collaboration. A model for all cultural producers. I was grateful for Norman’s characterization of the dynamic interdisciplinarity manifest in the hub of excitement and of nascent and mature talent  that was 1980s SFU Centre for the Arts where i also found my way and first experienced Norman’s theatrical talent https://www.sfu.ca/vancity-office-community-engagement/below-the-radar-podcast/episodes/226-norman-armour.html  The podcast also gifted me a treasure of  Norman’s unique infectious laugh, a positive reminder that  his  spirit is/was irrepressible and will walk  with us.  Thank you Lorna for supporting Norman through the shared pain of this devastating period of illness.  My heart breaks for you and your family, for Norman’s extended family, and Norman’s vast ocean of friends and professional colleagues across the globe.   

Carol Williams

******************

Although I wasn’t a close friend, for some reason I felt connected. That was Norman’s gift, I think, to be able to draw so many people into his sphere of creativity, warmth, intelligence, and initiative. I was an early supporter of PuSh, gobsmacked at how lucky I was to see so much interesting work in the dark of winter while my friends who spent those months in the sun were missing out. I loved some shows; hated others. It didn’t matter….I liked that programmers took risks so we could decide for ourselves. I’m very sad that he’s gone, but clearly his influence will 

continue to be widely felt. In the SFU radio interview posted recently he sounds so present and engaged. Yesterday, when I heard the news of his death, I had a sudden vision (fanciful, but hey….) that Norman had joined his dear friend Kevin Mooney (who left suddenly in 2018), and perhaps the force that was Judith Mastai (d.2001, and together the three of them were stirring things up and making stuff happen, albeit in a realm we don’t yet have tickets for. Dear Lorna, how you and his family will miss him. 

Much love.

Judith Penner, Vancouver, BC

******************

I have so many wonderful memories of Norman, starting from those days at SFU and the old “Centre for the Arts” then Rumble Productions and the start of PuSH. Whenever we met, what always struck me was his ability to engage me so directly with his eyes– then reflecting on the conversation, offer some thoughts that took things off again in a nuanced, new direction. I’m remembering a lovely dinner at Lorna and Norman’s where he was choosing the music. He put on Van Morrison’s Veedon Fleece. I’m listening to You Don’t Pull No Punches, But You Don’t Push the River now and my heart is breaking– such a huge loss. Much love to Lorna, the boys and Norman’s  family.    

David MacWilliam

******************

Lovely Norman. A wonderful colleague and friend. Someone who held space for conversation, ideas, hearts and creative spirit. Clever and kind. An arts leader I aspired to be. Thank you friend for generosity. We have loved being with you.

Josh Wright, Melbourne Australia

******************

Such a special person, collaborator, colleague and friend. Norman has been an incredible partner in crime for our work at APAM over the past five years - how lucky we were to have his enthusiasm, rigor and smarts. And equally his humor and warmth. Sending much love to Lorna, Dani, his family and all our colleagues who are feeling this loss so acutely. Go gently Norman. 

Catherine Jones

******************

Norman was a collaborator-extraordinaire. The way in which he championed artists and arts organizations in Vancouver (and beyond) was unique in that he was continually aware of ways that he could make connections between them, and willing to take the time to see those to fruition. I am eternally grateful to him for the conversations we had and the generosity of spirit he showed in every interaction. He offered advice, accolades and genuine interest. He was a gem of a human. My condolences to his beloved family and friends. In his last year, his posts and focus showed where his true love lay. He was rich in love and life.

Leslie Hurtig, Artistic Director Vancouver Writers Fest

******************

"It seems to me that if we love, we grieve. That’s the deal. That’s the pact. Grief and love are forever intertwined. Grief is the terrible reminder of the depths of our love and, like love, grief is non-negotiable. There is a vastness to grief that overwhelms our minuscule selves. We are tiny, trembling clusters of atoms subsumed within grief’s awesome presence. It occupies the core of our being and extends through our fingers to the limits of the universe. Within that whirling gyre all manner of madnesses exist; ghosts and spirits and dream visitations, and everything else that we, in our anguish, will into existence. These are precious gifts that are valid and real. 

*****************

Norman and I go way back to SFU in the early 1980’s. We worked in productions together then and subsequently in the Vancouver theatre blast of students trained to ‘make their own work’. When Rumble Theatre started I reluctantly agreed to sit on his Board for a couple of years. He eventually told me he needed my “senior wisdom” for a while.  Then one evening over a glass of wine he told me of an idea he was thinking about: “an  international theatre festival here in Vancouver by invitation”. I asked lots of questions. Within a year Push Festival started. I was constantly  impressed by his ability to make things happen - and the rest is history. A treasured friend and colleague who influenced so many - a global village really sums up his impact.

To meet him was to love him.  Heart goes out to Lorna and his Toronto family. 

Gina Stockdale  

*****************

I am at a loss.

I knew what was happening, but somehow, I made myself believe he would be with us for longer.

The last thing I said to him was, “The next time you’re in Toronto, let’s go see a play.” He smiled and said, “Yeah man that sounds perfect.” He gave me this look of comfort that allowed me to leave the garden party without feeling completely devastated. That to me was the beautiful and generous spirit that made Norman, Norman.

Also, Norman is one of my middle names, so he will forever come to mind when I see my full name written out or spoken aloud. What a blessing. Safe journey home my friend. You will dearly be missed. My heartfelt condolences to Lorna, Dani & all of the people who loved and cared for him.

Keith Barker, Stratford Ontario

*****************

Norman was a close and wonderful friend through high school. He was one of my brothers'  closest  friends through those years. We had endless fun with our incredible group of friends up on our third floor at 48 Rowanwood. He was incredibly passionate about music and shared so much knowledge with us at such a young age. He inspired the group with his favorite, new and old songs and musicians. Something we will all be grateful for. He was funny, kind and absolutely one of the smartest people you could meet. He was always passionate about the arts. We spoke a few times over the years. I am deeply grateful to have had Norman in my life at such a profound and poignant time of  life. He was truly an old soul. My thoughts go out to his family and dear friends. 

Trish Drynan, Toronto

*****************

 I met Norman in the early 1980’s when we were fellow theatre students at SFU.  For a short while, he moved into my Fool’s Society studio space at Main and Cordova - one in a series of narrow shoeboxes kitty-corner from the cop shop - into an absurdly bohemian plywood loft up near the ceiling, hardly tall enough to sit up in.  My strongest performance memory was of Norman’s solo, black-box style performance of Krapp’s Last Tape in a dark, dingy corner of the Perel basement which SFU used to rent on Hastings Street. The mood in that crypt was atmospheric, powerful, and very suited to running the old tapes. Norman described his embodied actor process, working for months embedding meaning into the text, dropping in the layers. I was always struck by his integrity, charm, and passionate enthusiasm for the arts, and thrilled to see him carry it on into a life’s career as a mover and shaker who seemed to be in touch with everyone, everywhere.  Through his leadership, helping so many to creatively thrive and experiment, Norman was a quintessential Vancouver artist. Rest well, maestro.

Dan Vie, Courtenay BC

******************

Norman used to say he looked like Cronenberg, but I always felt there was a Spalding Gray element as well, even before I knew him and would spot his distinctive figure at the Traverse bar. (he'd be perfect as the Stage Manager in Our Town). He was such a great host in Vancouver, and ran a beautiful festival with Joyce. I'm glad I got to spend some time in Lisbon with Norman and his friends, right after TBA opened, right before covid hit. What a privilege to have met him in three continents.

Francisco Frazão

******************

I remember how Norman was one of the first person to welcome me when I arrived in Vancouver more than 8 years ago. He and Joyce both took the time to welcome me to this wonderful arts community for which he was an amazing leader. I’m sincerely grateful for all his support to our community and all his exciting and surprising projects. 

I wish my deepest sympathies and love to Norman's family. 

Julie Mamias

******************

Norman invited me to play. He invited all of us to play. He never missed a moment to challenge, encourage, provoke or flatter my artistic senses into action. He was my director and friend and I will miss the invitations to discuss and share his passion and knowledge of this art and practice. Clear skies and good winds dear Norman.

With thanks and love, 

Kathy Duborg

******************

I first met Norman at a cue to see a show in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Then I would run into him at other festivals. I finally got invited to PuSH, and boy I felt lucky. From then on, I felt very close to him even though we did not have a chance to see each other so often. During the pandemic, I had the privilege of working with him and sharing many zoom hours. His sense of humor, kindness and knowledge sharing were some of the best parts of those sessions. Last time I saw him was in Montreal in 2022, walking backwards on an escalator, performing. You will be missed, our dear friend.

Shoshana Polanco, Mexico City

******************

It is impossible to fathom that Norman is actually gone. I’m holding on to the reality that his impact is everywhere - in all the conversations, the works, the artists, the collisions and happenings he facilitated. That the echo of his laughter or the insightful thought that cut through all the white noise will stay clear in our minds and hearts forever. I knew Norman before I knew Norman and to finally work alongside him at the Australia Council was a privilege. He was one of a kind. Sending lots of love.

 Annette Madden, Sydney Australia

******************

I first met Norman at Push in 2012. Me, a baby festival programmer manager type, him, looking a bit tired but still keen to know more and disappointed he didn't have time to chat. Good thing he got CPR the week after (what a festival event that must have been) so I could learn more about and from him through the past years. His delight and curiosity of people; of artists. That you can be honest about the work and life you're doing and leading, and know that you don't have to work with arseholes. To go through life with a sparkle in the eye and some wit in your pocket, and foster relationships with good people wherever they are in the world. I saw him proud and delighted of people he'd mentored, including my soulsister Dani. I will miss bumping into him around the world, picking up where we left off. Ka aroha kia a koutou - go gently x

Steph Walker

Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand

******************

My enduring memory of Norman is the spark that he brought to any conversation, the passion for the arts and ideas, his deep sense of inquiry. I will treasure that sense of ‘Norman’ until I draw my last breath and aspire to influence as widely as these collected words attest. Our last meeting was in Fremantle in WA with my partner Deidre where we spent a sparkling sun-drenched afternoon chewing the fat, sharing our passion, and generally putting the world in its slot. A fine recollection worthy of a fine man. My love to the Armour family.

Guy Boyce, Perth Australia

******************

Norman changed Vancouver for the better. It was always a pleasure to cross paths, and as I see the outpouring of connections on these pages, I treasure the opportunities I had to learn from him, be entertained by him, and grow as an artist because of his leadership. Thanks, Norman, for leaving this world a better place. May we follow your example by finding our own paths. With love and respect to your close circle. 

With love. 

Heidi Taylor, Vancouver

******************

Such a sad day for so many.   Norman was always a beacon in the arts community, as a curator, a leader and a friend to so many.  He will be greatly missed.

Barbara Tomasic, Vancouver

******************

In my first internship out of University in a new workplace, Norman showed me dignity and care, he treated me with kindness ,and we shared a love of films. I asked for his selection of films, boy! Did he have really good taste in films. I hope to make you proud one day.  Hopefully i can make that list of films he would have liked. God Bless and Much Love. 

Oz Malik , Melbourne Australia.

******************

Norman was a friend and valued counselor for many years. In 2009, we first talked about PAULINE, a City Opera commission being written by Margaret Atwood, with music by Tobin Stokes and originally to star Judith Forst as Pauline Johnson. Three years later we were looking for a stage director. I had a list and wanted his critical advice – in confidence. We met for just over an hour, and he knew everyone on that list. For each name, he offered a shrewd, kind, and insightful opinion. It was breathtaking, and Norman at his best. As we concluded, I thanked him for his wise, deeply practical, and endlessly positive advice about the direction of a very important new Canadian chamber opera.

As we wound up, Norman said, “There’s one more name I’d like you to consider.” “Oh, OK. Who?” “Me.”  Three beats.  “Good Lord, Norman. I never thought you would be interested.” “I am, but I wanted to discuss all the other names first.” He had been respectful to all, and ardent about a handful. But then he proposed himself in as modest and constructive a way as one could ever hope. I was thrilled, our Board approved, and two years later he led a triumph to five nights’ packed houses at the York Theatre. The rest of the story is known to many.

I last contacted Norman about two weeks before he passed, congratulating him on his danwonderful interview with Am Johal. He proudly deflected, as usual, if anything could be said to be ‘usual’ with our friend. This man was an ornament to Canada, our city, our arts and ideas. Norman was greatly a teacher, and ever a student. He shone.

Charles Barber

******************

This a huge loss to our theatre community. Norman was a game changer in every aspect of performing arts and we all know about his accomplishments but what we don’t know about is  - all the things he did behind the seasons one on one for folks especially when folks emerging in the field and with a lot of potential. I was blessed for numerous conversations I had collectively as a group and one on one with him as an emerging producer earlier in my career. Being in a meeting or a coffee side chat always left me with hours and hours of wisdom from a minutes long conversation. His encouragement was always timely when I needed it. May his soul rest in peace! We will miss you Sir! Namaste! 

Rohit Chokhani 

******************

I’m sending love and condolences to Lorna, Dani and the Armour family. I was fortunate to work with Norman for a couple short years at PuSh. Like countless others, Norman supported my career in ways I will remember and be indebted to forever. I am grateful for all the memories and opportunities to collaborate with Norman that informed the kind of arts fundraiser I am today and will always aspire to be. From our many fun donor meetings to afternoons hunched over a table in the Canteen at The Post planning the next fundraising appeal, to tagging along with him and Joyce to Fusebox in Austin, and his generosity in providing references to help me land my next jobs. The last time I saw Norman was in the lobby of the Chan Centre after a performance in April 2023. We connected briefly near Gordon Smith’s painting Silent Woods. It occurs to me that I was walking alone in the woods of Pacific Spirit Park when I received the news of Norman’s passing. I will remember him often, and when I see those woods. 

Hannah Tregidgo (Bellamy)

******************

It feels like only yesterday I was sitting with Norman at Pacific Contact talking about Australia. I first met Norman in passing as a recent graduate working in Vancouver theatre. It wasn’t until later during my time at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet did we get to know each other better. First on the Canadian Heritage Creative Industries Trade Missions and then with the co-productions with Queensland Ballet and West Australia Ballet. Norman was an invaluable advocate and always supported any cross Canada-Australia connections. The last time I saw Norman in-person in April, I mentioned that I had yet to make it to Australia myself. I’ll finally have my chance this February and will surely think about Norman every step of the way. 

David Warburton, Nanaimo

******************

As the sun sets today, I am missing you, Norman. A wonderful, passionate, clever and funny guy, you’ll be missed for the ways you held space, the laughter and sparkly eyes, the fire you brought to a conversation and your unwavering love of artists and the arts. Thank you for all the chats, the difficult moments in the waves we rode through those strange years and for our more recent chats as you shared ideas, thoughts and reflections from this amazing life.

I feel lucky to have spent time with you and wish I could see you again.

Sending much love to you and your loved ones.

Love, Jade Lillie

******************

Yorta Yorta country

Dear dear Norman. I only saw him a handful of times in Calgary, New York and in Vancouver. But that wry twinkle in his eye was so special! When I learned of his miraculous life-affirming dramatic recovery from the heart attack mid-PuSH Festival, I knew I was in the presence of an arts-loving angel. He was always understated in his advice, which he dispensed with such frankness and relish - he was sort of Garrison Keilor (Prairie Home Companion) of international arts programmers. I remember: the first year he invited me to PuSH - from NYC - it was the presenters’ breakfast on the last day - I was representing a dinky sized off-Broadway theatre. I said: ‘Thank you so much for having me Norman; I’m such a small fish!’ And Norman replied, quick as a flash: ‘Oh Raphael, you have to be here. You are showing support to all these international artists and it’s so important for you to know them and for them to know you.” That was the gorgeous understated generosity that Norman lived by. Also - he once took me and Tim Carlson to the most amazing secret music gig in a small room in the back of beyond Van City; the room was lit by fairy-lights and was perfumed by intricate and gentle acoustic guitar music. It was magic. Just like him. I miss you, kind and dear sir.

Raphael Martin (London, UK)

******************

Oh, Norman! What a brilliant, kind, funny, and rare and wonderful person. Norman was a visionary artist and curator and equally a kind and gracious mentor. Every conversation he approached with curiosity and generosity and creativity, always seeking to connect ideas and people together in such meaningful ways. He has done so much for Vancouver and the field as a whole. I feel so lucky to have known him. Deepest condolences to his family, friends, and everyone he made an impact on. 

Anna Gallagher-Ross (Toronto, Canada)

******************

Wandering through these beautiful notes from all over the world confirms what Norman was above all else -- a connector. Of people, visions, potentials, impulses, dreams … and he did it all with such heart. He loved bigger, worked harder, dreamt higher, stewed longer. His work as an artist, producer, presenter, impresario, hustler, advocate, jokester, shit-disturber changed me and this city forever and no one else could have continued at the pace he did. And then, he was also always a pleasure to just slow down and sit with. My heart is broken.

Big big love dear friend. Big love to Lorna. And big love to all those (Dani!) who saw Norman through these last months.

Jamie Long

******************

Oh Norman, how can this be true? You were always kind to me and we had great discussions around what you hoped would be my potential role in the Festival when I worked there. You loved to find the potential in others and to support their journeys. I always appreciated the ways in which you believed in taking risks on content and the multiple ways you supported BIPOC and queer artists. I’m sorry I didn’t know how scared you were of clowns when I came to work dressed as one! Your laugh and your passion will be greatly missed by so many. Whatever happens next in this great mystery, I am picturing your joy and enthusiasm in the process. Sending ♥️to all who loved you most and feel bereft with your loss. You’ve left quite an impression on the world.

Love from Linnea Strom

******************

I feel honoured to have worked alongside Norman over the last 2 years on Inside/Out and as I continue to navigate the waters I will keep Norman’s passion and support of the project as the guiding light. 

Norman, you will be missed.

Jack Fox 

******************

My dear Norman, thank you for the gift of your friendship. For the glasses of wine, the regaling of stories, for including me in countless opportunities to meet new colleagues, for making sure to tell me about artists and work I should not miss. My heart is heavy right now, but it is also filled with love and memories that I shall always cherish. Rest easy my friend. 

Love, Iris Nemani

******************

I had the privilege of being involved in the creation of a few PuSh focused documentaries, Norman was always there, so supportive and giving throughout the process.  I remember he once asked,  “What was the shooting ratio?”  Meaning how many hours did you film to make this 45 minute documentary.  In my 20 years as a videographer no one had ever asked me that before — it’s something only an editor would care about.  But Norman cared, and with that simple question, he demonstrated an understanding and appreciation for the often solitary work done in the shadows.  Norman was a wonderful ambassador, an indefatigable enthusiast for the arts and a genuine, encouraging presence for artists as well.  He has a well-deserved place in our hearts.  

Darren Heroux

******************

I am deeply thankful to Norman.

I think I met him originally back in 2013 at Radar LA. It’s always an awkward feeling as an artist to go up to a world famous programmer, but I remember he was so kind, open, and came to my show at the festival - and was so supportive and generous. He invited me to PUSH festival a few months after.

Most recently, I was blessed to be part of his curation at VIFF Live in October of 2023, his vision to bring together the film communities with those normally just outside that circle - those who do live performances that are centered around the moving image/screen. Knowing that he was already sick, I was thoroughly touched that I got to see him at the site visit of the venue. I hadn’t seen him for years, and as he came out of a car leaning on a cane, I was overwhelmed with the happiness to see him, and gratitude to see him feeling strong that day and that he put so much energy to see through this event. We walked around the venue space, and met folks from VIFF. Norman was focused on making sure all was in order to put on a great event, and stressed that the artists he was curating for VIFF Live should take advantage of all that our festival passes offer us, to go to not only screenings but the various events to connect with artists and industry folks. From all my experience of Norman, it’s clear he makes bridges between communities, makes new spaces for connections to happen. 

It’s clear he had a wonderful purpose in his life that drove him, and that this lifted up all of us who got to be in his wider circle as well. 

I am so thankful for Norman. We will miss you so much.

Deepest condolences to Norman’s family.

Miwa Matreyek

******************

Deepest condolences, with love and respect.

Giorgio Magnanensi

******************

Dear Lorna and Amour family, 

I am so very sorry to hear of Norman's passing. 

Please accept my deep condolences and much love to you. 

Norman was one of the kindest, brightest souls I had the pleasure of knowing. Norman was always so welcoming to everyone. Working with Norman on a Push project back when I was just starting my tenure at ECU was so exciting to experience: Norman, you were so invested and generous with students' ideas and contributions. You taught me about the joys of collaboration across art forms. Your life-long legacy is a truly rare gift you have given to us. I find it so difficult to put this into words: my gratitude and feelings run deep for you dear Norman and Lorna.

 Fiona Bowie

******************

I’m so sorry for your loss. I met Norman my first day working at SFUW and he’s been a consistent partner who I always was excited to work with. His legacy is one so many of us will carry on in our hearts. My deepest condolences.

Ana Kresina

******************

Condolences to Lorna and Norman’s family. There is a hole in the universe, filled with the love from so many for Norman, a force of nature for the arts.

I had spent 9 years as Executive Director of Pacific Music Industry Association, and was approaching burn-out; and was Vice-Chair and then Chair of the Alliance for Arts and Culture, where I met Norman, as chair of the Alliance’s Advocacy Committee. Then I left PMIA in 1999, figuring that with my previous background in media, I could do publicity for music acts. Norman jumped in – his publicist Laine Slater was heading back east with her husband for a year. Norman asked if I would take over as publicist for Rumble. “Norman, what do I know about theatre?” I asked, followed by Norman’s “You’ll figure it out.” I still remember some of those early shows, “Three in the Back, Two in the Head”, Marie Clements’ stunning “Burning Vision”, and Aaron Bushkowsky’s aching “Soulless”. I’m still thinking about those shows. And then he and Katrina Dunn started the PuSh series, where I was publicist through the PuSh Festival from 2003 to 2016 when I retired. It was a privilege to work as Norman’s publicist for 16 years. Never easy; always rewarding.

Ellie O’Day

******************

I was a cheeky little shit to Norman and he always served it right back. Most of my friendships on the west coast of Turtle Island are due to this ol’ bastard seeing something in me - who the fuck knows what - and tapping me on the shoulder for professional development. As he did with countless others in the arts all over the world. I love him and I’ll miss him. 

Ali Murphy-Oates, on Gadigal (Sydney Australia)

******************

The last time I saw Norman we laughed and laughed. This was at the dinner following Kathy Slade’s CAG opening. Norman and Lorna were there, and as soon as I walked in the door Norman started kibitzing. Norman’s presence will always be felt here in Vancouver through his groundbreaking work in theatre, through PuSh, and in the arts generally, but, as I have learned by reading the comments on this site, his presence also continues to be felt internationally.  What I admired most about him was his ability to speak at length, without notes, about the artistic projects that he helped bring into being—eloquently, fluidly, seamlessly—because what he said was, in fact, not scripted. 

Richard Cavell, Vancouver.

******************

My heart remains heavy and my body fatigued by this loss.  I know it will take time to fully process the finality of Norman’s death.  Norman was actively working with us (International Choreographic Interlink Toronto-Taipei) right up until his passing.  There is a great void in our collective now…in me, Wen, Heidi, Michael, Fangas, PinWen and WuKang — who expressed it so well, “Heart sadden. Like a part of the connection between TT just jumped and fell into silence.” 

We are forever grateful to Dani for maintaining consistent communication and for arranging daily for Norman to have support through months of treatments and appointments.  Norman wanted to continue working and Dani’s schedule made it possible for us to arrange conversations, visits and even travel to SummerWorks in Toronto last August where our ensemble gathered for the first time in-person since TPAM Yokohama Feb 2020.  All of this was woven into and between Dani’s loving attention to Norman’s care plan. Thank you also to Norman’s brother Rob for so generously hosting us in your Toronto home.  We will remain forever grateful for this opportunity to sit in your garden with Norman, who guided us in a brilliant dialogue, as always, asking just the right questions and making sure everyone had a chance to feel and hear their unique perspectives and experiences expressed into the circle.  

Although Norman wasn’t able to travel with us to Taiwan just weeks ago, he was instrumental in getting us there and remained connected via zoom and our daily journals.  Norman, part of your every day was spent championing, bolstering, questioning, elevating, listening to and creating opportunities for others.  We will miss you greatly. Your legacies and life force energies will remain vital and alive in each of us and in our respective communities for generations to come.  We believe you fully let go knowing this and that your passionate curiosity has already led you well into your next adventures.  Travel well dear friend.  Sending love and condolences to Lorna, Dani and all of Norman’s loved ones. 

Andrea Nann + TT Interlink

******************

My deepest condolences to Norman’s loved ones. I got to know Norman when I worked for the PuSh Festival as the copywriter for its program guide, and I’ll never forget the gratitude and graciousness he showed me. Before I started working with PuSh, my notion of live theatre was quite limited, and the performances I was able to see thanks to Norman’s co-founding and programming of the festival were absolutely revelatory. All art forms are best served by those who have an expansive view of their potential, and in that respect Norman was exemplary. The debt that local audiences owe him is great indeed. 

Mike Archibald

******************

The way that PuSh became a true city festival under Norman’s leadership is such a huge inspiration to me and to many. The vision to make something shareable and rooted in place changed how I felt about Vancouver and how I understood the value of cities in general. I would thank Norman for caring about Vancouver, and for taking me seriously when I was a young arts worker. I’m sorry for his family’s loss, and for our collective loss. 

Sarah Moore

******************

The first time I met Norman was the day I found Push Festival back in 2017, in my recollection, I was a 2017 member of Youth Academy. I entered the space with the art community, social justice community, and queer community all as my intersections became a drop of my awareness and consciousness. I have journeyed with my new native and natural language. I grew up from that time, it still impacts me to become aware of the words, community deprived and language deprived.

In return, this is where I began to find my community. Push Festival and Norman gave the opportunity to perform as a collaboration with Jenna Mazur during the Youth Assembly.

I learned how my vision of the world became small to big in the themes of global and international, and my favorite creatives along with learning about Concord Floral, Theatre Conspiracy, and Hong Kong Exile during the journey of Youth Academy. Although, We all grew in different paths and ways. I still remember small interactions and little things. We don't need to share everything fully to connect and remember each other.

Here I am sharing this news somewhere to collect these memories of possibility. Thanks to Natalie Tin Yin Gan and Milton Lim for sharing the possibility of meeting with Norman. Thank you Norman for opening the connections in our living city to remind us to be alive somewhere.  

May we cross paths to find hopes, dreams and maybe grow again with aliveness in our reality.

This is how I met Norman and each person in the community.

Rei Ga-wun Leung

******************

Norman is and always will be a large part of the spirit of contemporary arts in Vancouver. When I was just coming into the industry, I looked up to Norman and his ability to bring amazing artists and people together to warm up this rainy city for PuSh Festival. And when I got to know Norman a little more, I felt that immense warmth and kindness from him. He always was someone who found it important to be present and connect with who he was talking to. He always made an effort to champion you and make you feel seen. No one who ever met him, despite being the co-founder of one of the most influential festivals in the world, could ever say he was pretentious. He was always so down to earth, which makes sense when you’ve learned he used to be a competitive ultimate frisbee champion, how can I guy like that be not full of vitality and rigor. Norman, you have touched so many of our lives forever, and your legacy will continue on. Thank you for being that for all of us. 

Davey Calderon, Vancouver

******************

I didn't know Norman directly and personally. However, I have known him at meetings, conferences or artistic events in Vancouver. I have always admired his great commitment to the arts, considering him a reference in our community. His dedication and his desire to present a wide artistic diversity were remarkable and most inspiring.

Sending warm thoughts to Norman's family.  

Jean-François Packwood, Vancouver. 

******************

Norman was a wonderful colleague and friend to so many around the world. I pass on my enormous affection and respect to his family and closest friends from Australia. I was lucky to work with Norman at Australia Council for the Arts and enjoyed every minute of every interaction. He was a gentleman; kind, generous and open. He was greatly loved here and will be sorely missed.

Sophie Travers

******************

I met Norman for the first time in Avignon 2005, still early days for the PUSH festival at that moment and we still needed to start CAMPO, those were still the VICTORIA times. I will never forget how he told me in our first meeting he only wanted to work together and make plans with nice people which - looking back and seeing how many times our paths crossed and how many times we collaborated I take it as a serious compliment. He’s been a compagnon de route for almost 20 years. I will miss him so much. Unforgettable moments. So much fun. And so much support for our work. Last time we saw each other was in Brighton, May 2022. Once again he advised me on something (that turned out to be a life lesson) which I will never forget. Norman, forever in my heart. 

Kristof Blom 

(also in the name of Marijke, Pol, Carl, … and the many CAMPO people he knew).

Gent, Belgium

******************

I met Norman for the first time at a TBA Festival in Portland, Oregon when I had just moved from NYC to the Pacific NW. His kindness, curiosity, and magnanimousness were evident from that first encounter. Over the years, as I founded and built an arts organization and a curatorial/presenting practice in Portland and then transitioned into serving as a global arts connector through my direction of an arts market in Montreal, and as he transitioned from PuSH to OzCo, our friendship was a constant. We shared fundamental passions for curating and producing in the performing arts, as well as for bringing people together in order to make more art possible in more places. Despite our twenty year age difference, our transitions from serving in the former function to serving in the latter happened to coincide nearly exactly, as did our shifts from focusing on local audiences to serving a global sector, so we really accompanied one another in this journey– and while I definitely feel I was mentored by Norman, I also feel grateful that he always treated me as a peer, including requesting, respecting, and being open to my advice and ideas. The breadth and depth of our shared experiences and conversations is truly impossible to sum up here– suffice to say that I am so thankful to have had an extraordinary friend, colleague, mentor, collaborator, and inspiration in Norman, and feel so bereft that he has left us so early. As these testimonies show, our friendship was just one little star in Norman’s giant constellation of relationships, which nourished so many of us, and which constitute an enduring legacy. I would like to especially thank those of you in Vancouver who devoted yourselves to his caregiving these last 8 months, helping him to pass safely and quickly from the surprise of his diagnosis towards what turned out to  be his last days, and surrounding him with your love, and ours, by proxy, throughout. May Norman’s memory be a blessing.

Ruth Juliet Wikler  

******************

Norman was such a beautiful, talented, kind, funny, and brilliant human. I remember how handsome a figure he cut at SFU in our undergrad days, we all had a bit of a crush on him, but I only really got to know him later through Lorna. As a couple they set an inspiring example. They were a powerful force that was equally as artistically and intellectually exciting as it was tender and loving. The sadness I feel is shattering. I send my deepest condolences and love to Lorna and family.

 Kathy Slade

******************

The world is a less passionate and mischievous planet with Norman’s passing. Who now will so confidently start a sentence not knowing where it will end in search of some truth? Who will lead so effortlessly with such grace, intelligence  and kindness? Not forgetting his sparkling ability to connect the seemingly unconnectable. Norman lit up whichever room he happened to be in. He was generous, insightful and insatiably curious.  The past twenty years have been so much the richer for knowing Norman. I will miss him hugely as the yeast of our community. 

Gavin Stride, Farnham, England    

******************

Norman Armour I am so lucky to have met and known you. You came at a time in my life, in the mid 90’s when this city felt liminal but full of possibilities that could happen artistically and you were a big part of making it happen. I always admired you for pushing the boundaries, for opening my eyes to new ways of seeing the work.  

You taught me so much. You taught me to explore the boundaries and appreciate the edges. You directed me in one of my most challenging roles in University. You gave me my first professional acting job in the theatre, in War of The Worlds, right out of SFU, still one of my favourite experiences. You showed me an actor could play a light by exploring the edges where the light fades and dies into shadow. Such a notion had never occurred to me but you were always pushing it. 

I have so many images of you from different times that are just so Norman. The way you held and felt paper between your thumb and forefinger. Especially good paper. They way your face got twisted up in deep concentration when you were stumped with a problem, they way you used to smoke and be able to inhale one faster than should be humanly possible. Your sense of style and grace even when messy. Your cadence. The way you could casually spin any disc balanced on your fingertip.

Inside of you there was always that spinning energy always calling out to the world to cast big aspirations and chase big dreams, within the often marginal world where avant garde meets independent theatre in little ole Vancouver. And you inspired others to do it, to explore the possibilities, to create our own dreams.

I am so grateful to have worked with you a few times. You always were kind and kept your word. When I became sick and isolated and reached out to try to heal, you listened and gave me good advice as you always did.

I will miss your smile and the way you engaged with ideas. You’ve done a lot for so many and I am so grateful to have been able to call you a friend as well as colleague.

So many good times that I miss and will always hold dear to my heart. 

Thank you, old buddy. I’ll always cherish you. I will look to the stars at night and see you there shining brilliantly forever. You’ll always be there in my heart.

Many hearts are broken now. My deepest condolences to Lorna and Norman’s family. This one is a really big loss that really hurts. My heart goes out to you.

Paulo Ribeiro 

Burnaby,  Canada 

******************

Norman will always be remembered and deeply appreciated for his invaluable engagement with Australian artists.  As a festival programmer of Australian works, and as a generous and astute connector and matchmaker through his role with the Australia Council for the Arts, Norman facilitated many impactful opportunities for Australian artists and arts companies in the North American arts sector over many years.  Norman was a highly respected, straight-talking, sharp-eyed, dryly funny and much loved colleague and friend to many, and he will be deeply missed.

My heartfelt condolences to Norman’s loved ones at this very sad time.

Karilyn Brown

******************

I only had the pleasure of meeting Norman (with his Australia Council hat on) a few times but I liked him right away - a fellow Canadian. He was incredibly generous - sharing information and helping come up with a touring plan for my show Colossus when the idea was only embryonic. He offered his assistance and wisdom in the midst of the pandemic when touring was feeling increasingly unlikely. I loved his optimism! And his insights, ideas and connections were invaluable. My condolences to his family and close friends. He will be greatly missed. 

Stephanie Lake, Melbourne, Australia

******************

I will carry with me always the genuine curiosity of connection Norman offered. It could be a morning gather, an afternoon stroll, or an evening talk over loud voices after a performance. The smile of a welcome to see how I was doing and dive into the possibilities of collaboration, inspiration and next steps. I will miss you Norman. I mean I already do. I am grateful that we got to know each other professionally, and am humbled we got to be friends too. Much love to you, your family and the dear friends that will always carry a piece of your memory in their heart, myself included. Lotsa love. 

Reneltta Arluk

******************

Truly sorry to hear of Norman's passing. Please accept my deepest condolences.

I had the pleasure of meeting Norman back in his PuSh days and remained in contact over the years.  He was always kind, generous, and welcoming.  And his collective work over the years touched so many people around the world.  Sending an abundance of love and light to all his friends and family.

Peace!

Michael Orlove

Washington, DC

******************

Very Sad to hear of Norman's passing. I met him perhaps a dozen times in my life, but every one is a memory I will cherish. He was kind. And that is in short supply these days. My condolences to all who knew him.

Vern Thiessen

******************

******************

Norman’s energy and zest for life was truly infectious - he touched so many so deeply.  My condolences to Lorna and his family and to all his wonderful caregivers.

Allen Moon 

******************

Dear Lorna, I know Norman meant the world to you. I am so sorry you have lost him. All around are those who love you and I hope this will help keep you well. 

Love from Allyson

*******************

My deep, deep condolences, to Lorna, Dani and the whole Armour family. I met Norman when I was General Manager at Intrepid Theatre. At that time, Norman was an imposing figure. I was starstruck and shy around this confident, articulate and larger than life legend of a man who had co-founded PuSh. 

Then we sat on the BC Arts Council together and I got to know Norman in a completely different world and light.  He was still confident, articulate, larger than life, stunningly intelligent and one of the most straightforward talkers I have ever worked with. But he was equally large - if not more so - in heart and generosity.  He made you feel like you were part of his circle and an equal. He made you feel that what you had to offer had value - that it was important. 

After he left the Council, we stayed in touch, meeting online every month or so through (and after) the Pandemic -  just to catch up, share stories and talk about all sorts of ideas.  Despite being one of the busiest folks I know, Norman made time and gave you his full attention whenever you spent time with him. 

I am forever thankful that I got to know Norman better and that we spent time together.  I grieve that there will not be opportunities for more of that time well spent.

Ian Case

******************

Norman has always been endlessly generous and fiercely encouraging with the wisdom he shared with me as I navigated the early stages of my career. His reminders to be fearless, follow my instincts and never settle for less than what felt just right are always in mind. I channel Norman with every contract I review, and I fondly think about the dreams he had for himself, to return to the stage or perhaps the screen. The last time we spoke he was once again, offering staunch guidance as I considered an opportunity in Australia. I hope his spirit has heard the news; that I said yes and that everything he said would come true, did.

Sage

******************

Norman, I am so sorry you’re moved off this earthly realm but hope you’re having a grand time where you are now. I am so grateful for all you did to support artists and the arts community across the country and around the world. I was especially grateful for your respect and attention to our work on behalf of very young audiences. 

I send my deepest condolences to your family and dear friends who cherished you and whose lives you enriched with your artists, integrity, and overall goodness through the years.

Rest in Peace.

******************

Norman what you mean to me. Is not something I can compete with writing words.

But i’ll try. I’ll give it a ponder an impulse a wish a creative pop

I love you so much rest in peaceful fun my friend i hold you in my heart 

My love and thoughts to Lorna, Norman’s family, Dani and all of you x 

♥️heather 

Club PuSh 4eva 

******************

The last time I saw Norman, he reminded me of something I had said, years before, and kindly told me he had appreciated my words. I was taken aback—I didn’t know Norman well, and I assumed because he loomed large in my mind as a figure of note and influence in realms that he worked, that I would be relatively unseen by him. Hearing him speak about his work and the people he worked with in his last interview, I think that is exactly the source of his gravity and influence. He had an ability to see people. 

Julia Aoki

******************

It was a shock for me and colleagues in Creative Australia when we heard Norman’s passing. I had met Norman and worked with him in the International Team at The Australia Council since last year. I felt so bad as I had missed the chance to meet with Norman after he had been diagnosed. My draft email to him will never have a chance to be sent. However, his professional accomplishment and legacy will endure, as does his kindness and smile. It has been my privilege to work with you. Vale Norman. 

My deepest condolences, to Lorna, Dani and the whole Armour family.

Chloe Yan Li

Sydney

******************

It was a great privilege to have met Norman. His spirit will clearly live on all the lives he touched. All my love to Lorna, her boys and family, 

******************

I met Norman at APAM 2013. It was my first time presenting work to international presenters and I was very nervous. At the end of our showing Norman literally RAN UP THE STAIRS of the seating bank to find me and congratulate me on the work. In that moment, his instant, big-hearted response meant the world to me. I am forever grateful for the champion he was to artists he saw something in. I loved his genuine passion, curiosity and love of ideas, social equity and the arts community across the world. He was the real deal. Thank you Norman, I will miss you. Sending love and peace to his family and friends.

Roslyn Oades

Melbourne, Australia

******************

It’s hard to comprehend the loss of someone who was larger than life. My deepest condolences to Norman’s nearest. We were colleagues at the Australia Council - mostly during the pandemic - he always pushed the envelope just that bit further, and was the ultimate connector, which was a true gift in times of isolation. Norman brought energy, wisdom and humour to every interaction and I will be forever grateful for having known him. 

Joanna Bayndrian (Hong Kong/Sydney) 

******************

Condolences to all who loved and worked with Norman. I knew him from the PuSh collabs with UBC at the Frederic Wood Theatre. I was designing all the posters and programs, and running the box office and FOH. I really liked working with Norman and all the PuSh folks. After, when I’d moved on to other things at the Department, Norman would always make a point of stopping by my office for a little chat to see how I was doing. I wasn’t working with him or his team and he, a very big wheel in the Vancouver and international arts scene, was a very busy guy. Yet, he always stopped to say hi for a bit. I was really impressed with what a fundamentally decent human being he was. I’m very sorry he’s gone. 

Ian Patton, Vancouver, BC

******************

Norman was always a wonderful support to me and a creative, inquisitive artist at heart. He always encouraged arts collaboration, a cornerstone of my work at the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney. Norman particularly championed any work that was at the edges, that pushed boundaries or that gave voice to those who traditionally didn’t have space to express themselves. This inspired me.

We met regularly in Sydney or on-line, to share what was on our radars, to explore what projects we could mutually nurture or where we might find some extra support. A particular highlight was developing an Australian focus at CINARS in November 2022, the first big post-COVID project we embarked upon. It was great to see that team effort come to fruition in Montreal and as it turned out, that was the last time I’d see Norman in person. I will miss him dearly and think of him often. 

To Norman’s family and many friends, I send my deepest condolences. 

Sharon Pinney

******************

I have so many good memories of  Norman…, his humour, generosity, his patience, his gentle way and empathy, his invitation to us to come over and work in Vancouver was a milestone in my life! I am also glad that we had a chance to meet him last summer in Berlin. It was at a place called ‚Strandbad Mitte’ pretending to be a place at the seaside… A very hot day - Norman, fully in white, making good jokes. A flaneur of thoughts. I was a bit late and sent a message. Here is his reply:

so wise - so Norman. I am very grateful that I got to know him.

Helgard Haug / Rimini Protokoll, Berlin

******************

To Lorna, Dani and the Armour family,  this is a long tribute, sent with love,  from former PuSh Board member (2012-2018) and Norman’s friend, Margo Harper in Calgary.

First of all, I want to offer deep condolences to the clan of Norman Armour.  His death is the deepest sorrow, and he will be forever missed and remembered.

I offer all of you the greatest respect as I know Norman was cherished and loved and supported so very well in his dying time. 

Norman had a profound impact on so many, as the pages and pages of tributes attest. 

I think he would be so touched to feel the love of all of you.  I’ve been watching the funeral of Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan from Ireland this weekend, and remembering how much Norman loved Nick Cave.  I think it will be like that for a long time for many of us: “what would Norman say?"

Much has been said about Norman Armour's artistic gifts: his grace and brilliance, his wicked sense of humour, his ability to make great, leaping interdisciplinary connections and to foster those in others. His quality of attention. His devilish sense of humour.  His deep kindness. 

In a recent Am Johal podcast for SFU, I was struck by Norman's pride that  — during his tenure — the PuSh Festival was recognized internationally for the care it took of artists. As someone else wrote in these pages, one of Norman's epitaphs could be “Don’t Be an Asshole!”   

The last time I saw Norman, he was in  palliative care and had a week to live. The thing is: he was perfectly himself even though there was virtually nothing left of him.

I visited Norman with our mutual friend Sudha Krishna, who sold Norman his classic vintage Mercedes many years ago.  When I took Norman’s hand that day, he fixed me with that fierce gaze in the trademark trendy black glasses and said “there will be no quivering here Margo”. 

One of Norman’s defining qualities was that he had no patience for the maudlin.  He was always fresh in his approach to art and conversation. He liked straight talk and black humour.

During our visit he told us he’d been trying to decide in past months whether to buy a new pair of the signature black, designer glasses.  “I’ve decided against it, I don’t think I’ll get much wear out of them.” 

I was struck by Norman’s grace under the circumstances that day. There were no banal bromides about the afterlife.  What he believed about the spirit world, I do not know.  But I did not experience Norman as bitter or frightened, although I’m sure at times he was both. 

He wanted to talk about personal things: his mother Sasha (who died the same year as my Mom), Sudha’s young children, my long distance relationship with a partner in Portugal.  We talked about kids books and I mentioned the Velveteen Rabbit, wherein love and touch make the rabbit “real”.  I told him my grand-daughter once asked me if it was possible to love too much.  We agreed there is no such thing as too much love.

The first time I met Norman was in 2009 at the beautiful Arthur Erickson designed Baldwin House on Deer Lake in Burnaby at a fundraising dinner for Theatre Replacement. 

The mist hung low over the water and you couldn’t tell where the lake ended and the sky began.  When I visited Norman in palliative care, he looked out the window and commented that the horizon was infinite, as it was at Baldwin House that night.  

I was seated that evening in 2009 between Norman and my good friend from journalism school, Paula Martin, a senior executive at VanCity Credit Union.  Norman later recruited us both to the PuSh Board. 

When I met Norman, I was at the peak of my journalism career as news director at CTV in Vancouver — a huge but not particularly creative job. I had been a literature and theatre kid in university and was starved in my TV news world for cultural connections. 

The night at Baldwin House, Norman and Paula and I discussed the play Blackbird  by David Harrower, which he'd just directed for Rumble Theatre at The Cultch. A few weeks later I got Blackbird in the mail along with an invitation to lunch.  Over pasta, Norman and I discussed the script in which a woman tracks down her childhood abuser and confronts him in the workplace.  The script is an unsettling morality play about the shifting nature of truth. As usual, Norman was fearless and eloquent in his approach to the material.  I remember telling him that our conversation was like manna from heaven. Thus began our friendship and my involvement with PuSh.

Norman performed this role for so many.  He was a creative medium: putting people and ideas together. He was mischievous and direct. He liked natty suits and designer glasses. He had a peripatetic past, including stints as a cab driver and freestyle frisbee champion. He was extremely proud and devoted to his life partner, artist Lorna Brown. He had a network of artist friends all over the world.  He will be profoundly missed.

This year, I was able to pay Norman back a little for all the worlds he’d opened up to me.  I recruited him to the jury for a new arts and culture award offered by the Jack Webster Journalism Foundation. Norman led the jury deliberations with eloquence and passion.   He was going to be my date for the gala awards dinner in November.  When I saw him last September with our mutual friend, former PuSh curator Sherrie Johnson,  Norman thought he would have more time. 

The last time I saw Norman he was in full command of his visitors, but wanted to coordinate them with the televised Toronto Raptors game. He asked Sudha what he thought about the Raptors and they had a big chat about Pascal Siakam, the NBA all-star from Cameroon. Neither Sudha nor I knew Norman was a basketball fan. He was endlessly curious, right to the end. 

When I left, Norman asked me to come back on Thursday, three days before he died. We agreed we weren’t going to say goodbye,  I feel like perhaps he was protecting us both.  The irony is rich, and Norman would appreciate it: the dying comforting the living. 

As I left, I told him I loved him and that I’d see him in a few days. At the door, I looked back at him and said “no quivering”.  Norman fixed me with those fiercely intelligent eyes and pointed with his index finger as if to say “I’ve got my eye on you kiddo”.  And he does.   

 *****

*************

I’ve had more than a few days now to ruminate on Norman’s passing, and I apologize that this note comes later than I would have liked. I think I first met Norman after his one-person show – I think a Rumble production – at Performance Works on Granville Island, back in 1998 maybe? I remember enjoying it, enjoying speaking with him – his tremendous charisma. All the things we know and admire about him. In the years since, interactions with Norman were always filled with humour, an excitement about ideas that was unstoppable. He would overflow with ideas and excitement about the various artists and productions he was bringing to PuSh, or hoping to bring – and collaboration with him was magnetic, almost conspiratorial. It’s hard to think of anyone who was as successful as building a community around an array or projects and ideas. It’s a cliche to say that his enthusiasm was contagious, but it truly was. We miss you Norman. Love to Lorna and family. 

Jonathan Middleton

 ******************

So much love and so many great stories about our beloved Norman.

******************

I remember the first time I noticed that distinctive sparkle in Norman’s eyes. It was many years ago, around a dinner table, when he and Lorna had just started dating. I mentioned my love of Mary Margaret O’Hara’s voice. His eyes lit up and he jumped from the table to put on his favourite album.  

He could never sit still when he was excited about something, which was often. I admired his fearless and unapologetic exuberance for art, music, theatre, people, life. In this way, he was a natural leader, someone you wanted to follow to see where you might go. I remember he came to Paris on a research trip and, although I had already lived in the city for years, I spent two days following him through the city, from one spectacle to another, in and out of museums, running late to meetings and searching for lost keys. Every minute was maximised—life was too exciting to slow down. 

I am so sad that he has left this world. I will miss him. My heart goes out to Lorna, for the beautiful relationship they created together, and to everyone who loved him. 

With love, 

Kathleen Ritter

******************

The last time I met Norman was at Caravan Showcase in Brighton 2022. I told him about my new job, my future plans for an art festival and how I got inspired by the spirit of PuSh some years earlier. I remember his empathy and excitement brainstorming new ideas. He kindly offered his mentorship at any time. I feel lucky to have had this encounter with Norman. His energy, intellect and kindness were truly one of a kind. It only took one meeting to notice. My deepest condolences to Norman's family and friends.

Lea Gerschwitz, Mannheim/Germany

******************

I interviewed Norman in person about the PuSh Festival once for the Vancouver Courier and we really got on. I always enjoyed bumping into him and when I learned he lived in the same building as a friend, I’d hoped we’d encounter each other there too. (He was a bit of a rock star to me, so sometimes I felt shy to say “hi.”) 

I’m very thankful for all of the work that Norman did to make January and February in Vancouver something to look forward to, and I’m grateful that his work gave me the opportunity to dance in Le Grand Continental at the Festival - which was life changing - and to dance on stage at the Playhouse with professional dancers from Australia, which was exhilarating. 

I’m sending big virtual hugs to all of Norman’s loved ones. 

Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver

******************