As a mother, losing a child is an unimaginable pain — one that stays with you every day. My daughter, Miriam, tragically passed away in a car accident on her way to work a couple of years ago. The grief has been overwhelming for our family, but now we’ve reached a point where we want to turn that loss into something positive, something that reflects the person Miriam was.
That’s why we’ve created the Miriam Flemming Memorial Award at York University, a way to honour her memory and keep her passion alive through future generations.
Miriam was such a talented person who had a great deal of love for others. She worked for the Ontario government in the Ontario Works program, where she helped people going through difficult times. But her heart was always in the arts. She loved literature, painting, and film — especially Japanese cinema. She was an artist in the truest sense of the word.
It’s fitting that this scholarship will support first-year students entering the English or Visual Arts programs at York University. These are the fields Miriam cared so deeply about, and I know that she would have loved the idea of helping young students who share her love for art and literature. It’s a way for us to make sure her creative spirit continues to inspire others, even though she’s no longer here with us.
If you wish to contribute you can donate online: giving.yorku.ca/MiriamFlemming. Select “Click here if you cannot find the fund you are looking for above.” And then type or copy and paste in “Miriam Flemming Memorial Award”. See the screen capture below:
Our first goal is to raise $3,000 to create an expendable award, which will provide immediate support to students in these programs. In the long term, we hope to raise $25,000 to establish a fully endowed scholarship that will continue to help students for many years to come. This award will be a living tribute to Miriam’s memory, ensuring that her love for art and her commitment to helping others will live on.
You can see examples of Miriam’s artwork below:
I’m asking for your help in making this dream a reality. Whether it’s through a donation or simply sharing this message with others, your contribution will help us reach our goal and make a lasting difference in the lives of students pursuing their passions in the arts and literature.
I believe that a memorial award like this can transform grief into something hopeful and constructive. By helping others, we keep Miriam’s spirit alive in the best way possible —through creativity, compassion, and learning. Each donation brings us one step closer to supporting a student who shares her passion for creating, dreaming, and making the world a more beautiful place.
Every bit of support helps, and it allows us to continue building a legacy for Miriam that will benefit future generations. Thank you for helping us keep Miriam’s memory alive in such a meaningful way. It would have made her so proud. giving.yorku.ca/MiriamFlemming
Leave a Reply