Sue's Legacy

Growing The HeART in Community

What does heart centric community building through the arts look like? It's one of those things that we know what it is when we feel it, but can't always put into words. Yet when we see a lived example the words become a name in place of a definition; their life a summary of everything we know would be included in a dictionary definition if only the pages were long enough to hold every detail. For many Sault Ste. Marie residents this phrase - heart centric community building through the arts - is perfectly described through a single name: Susan Barber.

Susan was the kind of person who made a difference. And not just for some, but for many people (especially young people) in Sault Ste. Marie over the years. She had an eye for seeing young emerging folks, who were otherwise going to slip through the cracks, and redirecting them onto paths of enriched opportunities.

There are several stories throughout the community of Susan guiding individuals to see themselves as part of a greater picture. Every stage hand, usher, and small background role was treated as a vital part of production, helping them to feel central and important with even the smallest of roles.

It is no exaggeration to say that Susan saved people with the work that she did. In a community riddled with addictions, family tensions, generational trauma, and instabilities of all kinds, Susan was a rock for many, giving them a place of purpose when they needed one. Her ability to hold others and bring them into the fold was and has continued to be a vital piece of history in the arts community of Sault Ste. Marie. From folks with overwhelming barriers to those who had nothing in their way, her leadership extended to all with the same love and care.

Theatre in particular is a home for those who need a place of belonging and love. Sue had a way of opening the door and inviting others into that home, through her encouragement toward others to simply try. For we can all accomplish great things, if only we would just try. Sue was always her true authentic self throughout the work that she did; even when that painful or hard. She continually gave her whole self to the shows that she was in time and time again. Her commitment to the work made it evident that she tried to bring as much of herself as she could. One of the most beautiful elements of Sue was that she made every person in every role, no matter how small, feel as though the whole show was hinging on their involvement. Sue made it evident that everyone’s contributions were important and valid, enabling casts to build a home together.

Fringe North’s Susan Barber Emerging Artists in Residency Program is just one small way of continuing to allow her legacy to unfold and be intentional about carrying it forward in the years to come. Countless lives were touched by Sue and several other folks went on to do passionate work in the arts after her influence. Fringe North is proud to be just one small avenue to continue on this work, creating a bridge over the barriers that keep some from accessing the arts.

Passion. Support. Creativity. Laughter. Love.

These are the founding pillars of the imprint Sue left on so many residents of Sault Ste. Marie and the artists that reside here.

Art is the heartbeat of any community. A heart is a complicated thing. It can be filled with laughter and tears all at the same time. Emotions that may feel conflicting can swell up together in a ribboned dance interweaving in and out of one another. Somehow it ends up one thread of many parts, despite each strand remaining identifiable on its own. The arts speak this language of the heart, allowing passion, connection, and truth to shine through. Sue deeply understood this important language and the work she did was always centered on the heart first.

It is Fringe North’s desire to continue this important heart work in our community through the Susan Barber Emerging Artists in Residency Program. Heart work may mean that we are sometimes impulsive, or take on more than we can handle. But it also means that we strive to connect to people, person to person, and keep our work human centered to the absolute best of our abilities. Through the Susan Barber Emerging Artists in Residency Program we do this to honour Sue’s life, legacy, and the important work she did while on this earth. We hope that this program can allow emerging artists and mentors to connect their heart language to others, to hear truths that need telling, and experience this collectively together as a community.

Lives Touched By Sue

Fringe North President Tova Arbus is no stranger to the beautiful heart centric work Susan Barber facilitated over the year. Tova Arbus began participating in the arts under the guidance of Sue at age 11.

“Sue was one of the people that showed me the arts meant something and that it was worthy work.”

Susan Barber largely encouraged Tova to study fine arts in university.

“Sue was one of the people that showed me that the arts meant something and that it was worthy work. She dove into every show with passion, exuberance, and determination. She took on challenges and roadblocks with a smile, even when that was the last thing she felt like doing. She showed me that, even at a community level, bringing professional energy and focus into the work always has excellent results. I've never forgotten the experiences or lessons that came out of my work with Sue, and continue to learn from them to this day." - Tova Arbus

"Sue would find the kid (or the person) who needed it most, and give them an extra hand. She had a habit of giving people 10% more trust and responsibility than they perhaps deserved... a controlled risk with profound and lasting effects. Sault Ste. Marie was a place that might not have felt very welcoming to a kid like me, were it not for the theatre community that I was welcomed into, in large part by Susan Barber. I am now a professional theatre artist and have worked in puppetry, theatre, and television across the globe. I say without hesitation that none of this would have happened without the influence of Susan Barber." - Adam Francis Proulx

*****Stay tuned for more to come*****