Vue du mont Albert (2003) – Artiste : Nycol Beaulieu – 36 x 72 pouces – Huile sur toile
In 2019, Maison St-Raphaël welcomed its first patient in its care home. At the time, there were about 40 employees (the team has since doubled). Only four rooms were available to welcome people at the end of life. Our first coworkers remember all the dust that had to be cleaned away and the empty spaces that had to be furnished. Although the building was beautiful after a full renovation—the light is gorgeous here—our home was still in need of some warmth.
Little by little, thanks to the generosity of many individuals and companies, we were able to furnish our 12 rooms, decorate our common living spaces and adapt the various rooms in our Day Centre to our multidisciplinary services. Slowly but surely, everything fell into place to meet the needs of people at the end of life and their loved ones. Decorating wasn’t a priority, but there were still a lot of beige walls that needed some TLC.
This was when we began our partnership with the Art for Healing Foundation.
The Art for Healing Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring the healing power of art to hospitals and wellness facilities, transforming these places into inspiring environments that offer a sense of serenity and hope to patients, their families and caregivers.
Our medical director at Maison St-Raphaël, Dr. Krista Lawlor, initiated the process with this Quebec-based organization, which supports some 100 facilities across Canada. Foundation founders Earl Pinchuk and Gary Blair were immediately drawn to our mission. They agreed to help us decorate our lovely home and improve the aesthetics for the people who live and work here by donating works for our three floors.
“End-of-life care is at the core of our raison d’être. In 2001, my partner and I spent a lot of time at the hospital at the bedside of a sick friend. We couldn’t help but notice the barren decor and the lack of visual stimulus that added to the sadness of the place. It affected everyone, including my dying friend, who was also an artist. This is what gave us the idea of founding the organization, as a way of incorporating art into everyday life and bringing comfort to those who need it in those precious moments.”
– Earl Pinchuk, founder of the Art for Healing Foundation
Earl came to Maison St-Raphaël to visit the premises and understand the needs and personalities of each room. He presented us with an initial selection of artwork that was approved by our artistic committee. The pieces were then hung in three stages, giving the team time to see what effect the art had on them. If a piece seemed out of place, Earl would suggest a new one that evoked emotions in harmony with its surroundings.
“We are very grateful for our partnership with the Art for Healing Foundation. Art is a source of comfort for so many people. Thank you to the Foundation for their generosity and to the collectors, artists and donors who help enliven the Maison and emphasize the sense of being at home.”
– Krista Lawlor, Medical Director of Maison St-Raphaël
We now have 47 works of art in our beautiful space. Take a moment to admire them on your next visit to Maison St-Raphaël.
To find out more about the Art for Healing Foundation: http://www.artforhealingfoundation.org/ or 514-846-3811
