PuSh International Performing Arts Festival artistic and executive director Norman Armour has just won a major award for fostering arts touring in Canada and abroad.

He's just received the 2015 National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring in the Performing Arts.

He was praised in particular for his work to bring West Coast artists and companies to international prominence.  

The award will be presented at the opening reception of the Canadian Arts Presenting Association’s 28th annual conference on Wednesday (November 25) at the National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage.

Armour champions local, national, and international artists and their works through platforms such as the PuSh Assembly, a big networking initiative, and the festival is known for its collaborations between companies and promoting cultural exchange.

"For the past 30 odd years of my professional career, I’d like to think that this has been my sole, and soul-defining, purpose and mission," Armour said in a press statement today. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you to my colleagues and peers at the National Arts Centre and CAPACOA for providing me with the inspiration and encouragement that we all so need to keep our spirits and minds going, day in and day out."