For many people, the holiday season is a highly anticipated time of the year. It’s when friends and families come together to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another.
It’s also a time for people’s creativity to shine, as parties are hosted, gifts are given, and cheer is shared. Classic stories are read, old movies are watched, songs are sung. The season is full of nostalgia.
“Art is a powerful tool to make connections with people.”
In the spirit of the season, Revera held a contest for all of our residents living in our Retirement Residences and Long Term Care Homes to produce their own holiday card. We received more than 100 submissions from across the country to be one of the six cards selected as Revera holiday cards. A panel of judges, including members from our friends at the Senior’s Wish Foundation – a program that connects students and older adults through their passion for art—chose the six finalists.
“Art is a powerful tool to make connections with people,” says Paul Elia, founder of Senior’s Wish Foundation. “When you engage the left side of your brain it allows all the memories and emotions from a person’s life to bubble up to the surface. That’s exactly what art does to people.”
Here are the winning submissions:
John Strange, Bow-Crest Long Term Care Home, Calgary AB
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John Strange lives at Bow-Crest Care Centre in Calgary and is 74 years young. Originally born in Montreal in 1944, John moved to Calgary in 1972 and has been there ever since. John worked in a packaging plant as a Bundler Operator. He also volunteered with “Elements” which is a self-help program with the Calgary Mental Health Centre.
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Nancy Clarkson, Greenway Retirement Residence, Brampton ON
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Born in Toronto in 1927 and raised in London, Florence Nightingale (Nancy) Clarkson is one of five children of Florence Nightingale (Sims) and Lt. Colonel John A. Campbell, MD. Musically talented, Nancy played piano from a young age. She married Douglas K. Clarkson in 1950, and together they raised four children. Nancy loves to draw and joined the Cedar Ridge Arts Guild in 1976 to expand her artistic talents.
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Norman Hogg, West Oak Village Long Term Care Home, Oakville ON
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Norman was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, raised in Glasgow, and moved to Canada with his wife in 1967. For most of his life, Norman worked as a commercial structural draftsman building and working in steel plants. He also served two years in the British Air Force where he played the bagpipes for the National Service. Norman is known for his love of music and for his sense of humour.
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Marg Kuehl, Fergus Place Retirement Residence, Kitchener ON
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Marg Kuehl was born in Letterkenny, Ontario in 1928, was married in 1946 and had two daughters, before moving to the Town of Killaloe where her family lived until 1963. They eventually settled in Kitchener and Marg still lives there at Fergus Place.
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Americo Falzago, Harold & Grace Baker Centre Long Term Care Home, Toronto ON
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Americo Falzago was born on September 18, 1926 in Udine, a city in northeastern Italy. A lover of the arts from a young age, Americo has travelled to 43 countries throughout his life, where he’s visited a number of galleries and churches. He likes to paint and draw and especially likes to challenge himself by drawing geometric mandalas.
Stephanie was born in Yorkshire, England and is a self-taught artist. She has had an interest in art her whole life, but her real passion for it came after retirement. Her inspiration comes primarily from nature, animals, and people, and she loves to use all mediums, however her favourite is watercolour pencils.
