Written by Lisa Browning
I knocked on the front door, and when Michelle Nogueira answered I said, “You know this is going to make me feel old, right?!”
I was dropping off copies of the revised version of Angel Has Her Wings (featured in the GAC newsletter in August 2024), which I republished ten years after the first edition came out in 2013. Michelle’s son, Noah, then a member of the Guelph Humane Society’s Junior Humane Club, had rewritten Peter Watson’s original story about his cat, for a younger audience. His version was funny, and it was brilliant. And it made an impact on both Noah and me, that I did not anticipate at the time.
Michelle had this to say about what the experience meant to Noah:
“Being involved in the Angel Project has forever changed my son Noah’s life. It has helped to raise his self-esteem and confidence, and given him an opportunity to feel proud of himself for what he has accomplished. Noah’s grades have also steadily increased since the Angel Project. He also seems more outgoing and shows terrific leadership skills in initiating conversations and making new friends.”
I hardly recognized the tall, outgoing, confident 20-year-old who greeted me at the door that day, and knowing that I had even a small influence on his life, and the activities he became involved in since the writing of the book, was beyond heartwarming.
Noah is now in his final year at Conestoga College, completing a degree in Robotics. He is also an incredible magician and juggler, who does shows in Guelph and beyond. I had the opportunity to connect with him again this month, when I invited him to be the guest author for Craft and Storytime at the Children’s Reading Room, a charitable family resource organization that promotes early literacy development and a love of books and reading. (From March through September, I have arranged for One Thousand Trees/Saplings authors to attend one of those sessions and read their books, and I have provided supplies and instructions for the craft time.)
Noah accepted the invitation, and not only did he read his favourite chapter of Angel Has Her Wings … he talked about the experience of writing and his love for animals, and he also did some juggling, much to the delight of those in attendance!
I asked Noah a few questions about his plans for the future, and also about how his involvement with the Junior Humane Club, writing Angel Has Her Wings, and doing magic/juggling have helped him on his journey. Following are those questions, and Noah’s responses:
What is one of your favourite memories of the Junior Humane Club, and how do you think your involvement there helped you to become the person you are today?
One of my favourite memories from the Junior Humane Club was when I adopted my cat, Eileen. I was introduced to her and got to spend the week with her during the times we’d be in the cat adoption room. That bond grew quickly, and eventually she became part of my family.
Junior Humane Club taught me so much about animals, and I learned a lot from my peers, staff, guest speakers, and the animals themselves. My experiences at the JHS further developed my sense of responsibility, empathy, and compassion. Those qualities have stayed with me and continue to influence the person I am today.
What was the best thing that came from writing Angel Has Her Wings? What was the most challenging?
The most rewarding part of writing Angel Has Her Wings was knowing that it made a real difference. All of the proceeds from the book were donated to the Humane Society. It felt amazing to know something I created could help animals in need, and that’s something I’m still proud of to this day. Even a decade later, the book continues to open new doors and allow me to stay involved in meaningful work.
The most challenging part was writing the final chapter. I hadn’t experienced loss personally before, and throughout the writing process, I felt like I had gotten to know Angel. Writing about her passing was emotional and difficult to process. It pushed me to understand grief in a deeper way and showed me how writing can be a powerful tool for working through tough emotions.
How did you first become involved in juggling and magic? What gifts do those activities bring to you?
I first got into magic through online videos. Like a lot of kids who grew up with the internet, I had my “magic phase.” During that time, I came across juggling and told my mom I wanted to learn. She set up a private lesson for me with Andrew Giordano, a local juggler at the University of Guelph. From there, I kept practicing and connecting with other performers. Eventually, I picked magic back up and started taking lessons from Wilbur Cortez.
Both juggling and magic have helped me build confidence by setting goals and working hard to reach them. They’ve also brought amazing people into my life. I’ve developed a large network of really awesome people, many of whom I see as mentors. These art forms are fun on their own, but they become truly special when I get to share them with others and make people smile. Performing allows me to connect with people in a way that feels genuine and impactful. Making people smile is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Now that you’re close to graduation, what are your dreams/plans for the future?
Right now, my plan is to work at a company in my field and continue performing part-time. That said, this past year has made me think a lot about my passion and what really matters to me. I used to think I had everything mapped out, but now I’m open to the idea that performing full-time might be the right path. I still love working in tech, and I may end up doing that more on the side while focusing on performance more seriously. I want to follow a path that feels meaningful and authentic. I’m young and still on the journey of figuring out who I am and who I want to be.
Any events coming up that you’d like to highlight?
Yes, I have a number of performances lined up. I’ll be at several fall fairs including Wellesley, Fergus, and Howick-Turnberry. I’ll also be performing at Downtown Guelph’s Spirit of the Season event in December. There are a few private events as well. I’m looking forward to these shows and whatever exciting opportunities come along the way!
