Milena Buziak named artist of the year in the Outaouais

Tashi Farmilo

Theatre director Milena Buziak has been awarded the 2025 Prix du CALQ – Artiste de l’année en Outaouais, a major regional honour that recognizes exceptional artistic contributions in Quebec. The prize, which includes a $10,000 grant, was announced during the Culturiades Gala on November 27 at Cégep Héritage in Gatineau.

Presented by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) in collaboration with Culture Outaouais, the award celebrates a local artist whose work has stood out for its creativity, impact and dedication to the community. For Buziak, who has lived and worked in Gatineau since 2016, the recognition is both personal and collective.

“This award is not just for me, but for all the artists and craftspeople I’ve worked with over the years,” she said. “Creating theatre in the region, for both kids and adults, is a real mission. Living off your art in Gatineau is an act of resistance.”

Originally from Poland, Buziak is known for her experimental and inclusive approach to theatre. She is the founder of Voyageurs Immobiles, a Gatineau-based theatre company that blends traditional performance with sound installations and interactive experiences. Her work often addresses cultural identity, women’s stories and the importance of connecting with others through art.

The jury praised Buziak as a “gathering force” who constantly reinvents her practice. In recent years, she has been especially active in developing projects for young audiences and helping strengthen the artistic community in the Outaouais region and beyond. Her collaborations include the Théâtre français at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Théâtre de la Vieille 17 and the University of Ottawa’s theatre program.

This is not the first time Buziak’s talent has been recognized on a national level. In 2020, she received the John Hirsch Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, which honours promising theatre directors early in their careers.

The Prix du CALQ is part of the government’s effort to support and promote the arts across Quebec. By highlighting regional artists, the council aims to encourage cultural diversity and sustain creativity in communities that often work outside the spotlight of major urban centres.

“This prize gives me the breath to keep creating and resisting.”