Writing Scholarships in Memory of the Adventurous Carlyle Norman

There are many great adventure stories that have inspired a great many lives. One such life was that of Bryn Carlyle Norman. Carlyle, as she was known to family and friends, was born in 1982 to Alex and Judy. Carlyle’s early childhood was spent exploring the great Alberta Wilderness with her parents, both avid hikers and climbers. At the age of six, Carlyle’s mother died in a climbing accident and then a few years later her father died in a biking accident.

Carlyle’s teen years were spent growing up in Calgary with her guardian parents Denise Poley and Marc Langlois, who encouraged her love for outdoor adventure. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in Philosophy and then moved to Canmore where she pursued her love of climbing, yoga and great conversations. Sadly, on January 17, 2012 Carlyle Norman’s life came to an unexpected end in a rock climbing accident in Patagonia. She was only 29.

If you ask those who knew Carlyle they will recall a generous and playful spirit – a contagious spirit that was the perfect combination of curiosity, silliness and great insight. They also recall an emerging writer who, from an early age, was interested in writing, primarily through journals which were often illustrated. Her writing was always insightful, philosophical and reflected a wisdom that was unusual in someone her age. More recently, she developed an interest in sharing her writing with others and wrote regularly for the Highline Magazine blog. She had intended to apply for a writing residency at the Banff Centre upon her return from Patagonia.

Because The Banff Centre is the kind of place where someone like Carlyle could explore her interest in writing as a craft and a way of expressing her unique perspective in life, two scholarship funds have been created in her name.

The Carlyle Norman Scholarship for Emerging Literary Artists Endowment provides financial assistance to one or more participants enrolled in Literary Arts programs at The Banff Centre. And in honour of Carlyle’s love for adventure and mountain climbing the Carlyle Norman Scholarship Endowment for Mountain
& Wilderness Writers will fund scholarships to one or more participants in
the Mountain and Wilderness Writing program. 

The Mountain and Wilderness Writing Program provides writers with a unique opportunity for one-on-one mentorship and the chance to connect with the Banff Mountain Film and Book festival, a celebration of mountain and adventure culture from around the world.