Once again, the Marie Dressler Foundation (MDF) has awarded bursaries to four outstanding students in Northumberland who are planning tertiary studies in the performing arts. On Saturday, 6 July 2019, awards of $1000 each were presented at Marie Dressler House which houses the amazing Museum dedicated to the memory of Marie Dressler – one of the three Canadian actresses to win an Academy award (the others were Mary Pickford and Norma Shearer). One of the four winners was honoured with the 2019 Bill Patchett Devotion to Community Award for exceptional community service. Many will know that Bill Patchett left us recently after a long life of working for many causes, big and small, including the restoration of Dressler house after a disastrous fire.
Foundation Chair Rick Miller said that there were a good number of applicants this year but the selection committee chose the following winners:
- Olivia Rapos – Campbellford District High School – Presenter: Scott Fraser (member of MDF Board). Olivia will be continuing her education at the University of British Columbia where she will study Music with a focus on opera.
- Ava Bogyay – St. Mary Catholic Secondary School – Presenter: Leslie Benson (Treasurer of MDF Board). Ava plans to study music and secondary education at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
- Juliette Sinnott – St. Mary Catholic Secondary School – Presenter: Rick Miller (Chair of MDF Board). Juliette plans to study at McGill University for a Combined Bachelor of Music and Science degree.
- Andrew Atanasoff – Cobourg Collegiate Institute – Presenter: Delphine Patchett (member of MDF Board and wife of Bill Patchett) – winner of the 2019 Bill Patchett Devotion to Community Award. Andrew is planning to attend York University for Fine Arts and Concurrent Education.
Short Bios are available here.
The photo above right shows the four winners. As usual, click to enlarge.
More news about Dressler House
This year, Cobourg has hired Experience Ambassadors to conduct for the first time, free Experience Cobourg Walking Tours every Wednesday to Sunday during the months of July and August. The tours will begin at 1 p.m. in the Victoria Hall lobby and will include a historical overview of the development and restoration of this remarkable Town Hall, followed by tours of the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre and Marie Dressler Museum where groups will be met by knowledgeable staff and volunteers. The Experience Ambassadors (summer students) have been hired in previous years but this is the first time walking tours to Cobourg’s Museums have been conducted.
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A fantastic news story, such as this one for four exemplary young people, is a joy to read! Continued success to all!