A wall of Battlefords Union Hospital's third floor has received an update.
The third floor, in addition to the chemotherapy unit, also houses the renal dialysis unit. Claudette McGuire, executive director of the BUH Foundation, says the idea came about after spending time in the chemotherapy unit where she read "courage lives here" written on a piece of wall art.
"I really liked that idea," McGuire said. "There’s trepidation and anxiety that these people and their families feel when they go to these appointments and we recognized that and wanted to do something to allay that stress."
An official unveiling of the Art of Courage wall took place Thursday. Speaking of the unveiling, McGuire added, "I wanted people to know there were a lot of steps in the process and a lot of thank yous to be made."
Those appreciation to be expressed included Warne and Paula Noyce, the photographers of the three canvasses hanging on the wall. With Warne being a cancer survivor, the Noyces were enthusiastic to be part of the project that gives "inspiration and motivation," said McGuire.
After deciding that this year’s theme be First Nations, the next step was finding a subject. Having worked with them previously, Noyce enlisted the help of Lacy Albert and her children Jazz and Landis. Albert, from Sweetgrass First Nation, is a world champion powwow dancer and was on hand, along with her children, for the unveiling.
The three canvasses of this year's first Art of Courage were printed and displayed by Ultraprint and Artrageous and this year's sponsor is Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs. There are plans to make the Art of Courage wall a yearly project and the BUH Foundation has already begun preparation for 2018.
