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The Harlyn Fortuna Belanger
Memorial Scholarship

February 27, 2007 — June 7, 2025
“Honouring what she loved — and who she was.”
This scholarship was created in Harlyn’s memory — to carry her creativity, her voice, and her spirit forward into the lives of young people who need them most.

Who was Harlyn

Harlyn Fortuna Belanger was remarkable. Artistic and articulate, she had a gift for expression that moved the people around her. She felt deeply, and she had the rare ability to turn that depth into something others could see and hold onto.

When Harlyn died by suicide on June 7, 2025, the loss was felt profoundly by her family and community. In her memory, Black Mental Health Canada created an educational series on suicide awareness and prevention — supporting the community with open, honest conversations that are so needed and so rarely had.

Harlyn’s story, and the way she lived, became the heart of that work.

“We honour what they loved — not how they left this earth.”

— The spirit behind this scholarship

What Harlyn loved was art. Expression. The act of taking what is hard to say and finding a way to say it anyway. That is exactly what this scholarship is built to support.

About the Scholarship

The Harlyn Fortuna Belanger Memorial Scholarship provides funding for children and youth to access Expressive Arts Therapy — a form of therapeutic support that uses creative modalities including visual art, music, movement, writing, and storytelling to support emotional healing and mental wellness.
This scholarship exists because we believe healing should be accessible, and that creativity is not a luxury — it is a language. For young people who struggle to put their pain into words, the arts can open a door that nothing else can.

Harlyn’s story, and the way she lived, became the heart of that work.

What is Expressive Arts Therapy? Expressive Arts Therapy combines psychology and the creative process to promote emotional growth and healing. It draws on multiple art forms — painting, music, movement, poetry, drama, and more — and is recognized as particularly powerful for children and youth who have experienced trauma, grief, or emotional difficulty. No artistic skill or background is required to benefit. Learn more →

WHO CAN APPLY

Children & youth aged 6–24

THERAPY TYPE
Expressive Arts Therapy
AWARD TYPE
Direct funding for therapeutic services
ADMINISTERED BY
Black Mental Health Canada

Who This Scholarship Is For

This scholarship is designed for young people who need support but face barriers — financial, cultural, or otherwise — in accessing it. Priority consideration is given to:
  • Children and youth from Black, racialized, and equity-deserving communities
  • Young people who have experienced grief, loss, or the impact of suicide in their family or community
  • Youth who have experienced trauma and may benefit from creative, non-verbal approaches to healing
  • Children and youth for whom traditional talk therapy has been inaccessible or difficult to engage with
  • Families referred through schools, community organizations, or healthcare providers
No diagnosis required. This scholarship is intentionally designed without unnecessary barriers. You do not need a formal diagnosis, a referral letter, or a history of engagement with the mental health system. A young person in need is reason enough to apply.

How to Apply

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Families, caregivers, youth workers, educators, and healthcare providers are all welcome to apply on behalf of a young person.
1

Submit an application

Describe the young person’s need and how Expressive Arts Therapy could support their wellbeing. Applications can be submitted by a parent, guardian, youth worker, school counsellor, or the young person themselves (if 16+).
2

Review & matching

Our team reviews applications and works with families to identify a qualified Expressive Arts therapist who is the right fit — including practitioners affiliated with the Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association (OEATA).
3

Funding & service delivery

Scholarship funds are issued directly to the service provider on the recipient’s behalf. Families are not required to pay upfront. The process is designed to be simple and dignified.
4

Ongoing connection

Scholarship recipients are welcomed into the BMHC community and have access to ongoing resources through Black Mental Health Canada’s network of programs and supports.

Resources & Further Reading

About Expressive Arts Therapy

Psychology Today provides a clear, accessible overview of what Expressive Arts Therapy is, who it helps, and what to look for in a qualified practitioner: psychologytoday.com/ca/therapy-types/expressive-arts-therapy

Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association (OEATA)

The professional body for Expressive Arts therapists in Ontario, setting standards of practice and connecting the public with qualified practitioners: oeata.ca

Harlyn's Legacy at Black Mental Health Canada

Read about the suicide awareness and prevention series created in Harlyn’s memory: https://blackmentalhealth.ca/remember-harlyn-suicide-awareness-prevention
If you or someone you know needs support right now:

Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (24/7)  ·  Text HELLO to 686868  ·  crisisservicescanada.ca

Apply for the Scholarship

If you know a young person who would benefit from Expressive Arts Therapy, we want to hear from you. Applications are open on a rolling basis.

Apply or learn more →
Black Mental Health Canada

The Harlyn Fortuna Belanger Memorial Scholarship

blackmentalhealth.ca  ·  oeata.ca

In loving memory of Harlyn Fortuna Belanger · February 27, 2007 – June 7, 2025

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