President's Award

The President’s Award is granted to an individual who has made a positive impact on Canadian society and is regarded as a change agent in education, social policy development or philanthropic endeavour.  The most recent recipient is Diane Dupuy, founder of the Famous People Players.  For a full list of past recipients visit our President's Award Archives.

Diane Dupuy Diane Lynn Dupuy, CM, recipient of the Order of Canada, is the President and Founder of the internationally renowned Famous PEOPLE Players, a professional black-light theatre troupe consisting mainly of PEOPLE who are developmentally challenged. Diane founded the company in 1974 with the belief that the disabled must be integrated into society. The troupe continues to perform with excellence from the Great White Way on Broadway to the Great Wall of China.

Famous PEOPLE Players have appeared on television numerous times, including a made for television movie. Most recently, the players were featured in a CBC and A&E Breakfast with the Arts special and Aaron Spelling’s television series 7th Heaven.

Diane’s work, so extraordinary on both the artistic and humanitarian levels, has led her to be the recipient of many awards. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1982, and was named Woman of the Year by B’nai B’rith Women in 1981. She received the first Ernest C. Manning Award for Merit in 1984 and was the first Canadian to receive the Library of Congress Award. She received the Local Hero award from the Canadian Urban Institute in 2006. She is also the recipient of the Vanier Award and holds five honourary degrees. In 2007, Diane achieved her third year certificate of completion of the Professional Training Program in Advanced Gestalt Leadership. Diane is the author of three best selling books and has published her first children’s book.

In 2003, Diane spoke as a panelist alongside past Vice President Al Gore at the Alliance for New Humanity.
Like the late great Annie Sullivan, Diane Dupuy has used will power and determination to bring out the best in all who join Famous PEOPLE Players.