During the month of October there is a special art exhibition in the Barrie City Hall Rotunda. (Barrie, Ontario, Canada)
Art work from over 20 members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Paramedics, Fire Services, Police Services, and Hospital Healthcare Providers have various pieces of their work displayed. The art is in diverse media including poetry, sculpture, wood carving, air brush, acrylic, and more.
The opening ceremonies on Oct 11 included comments from 5 of the artists. They had a common theme of describing how their art assists them in coping with the occupational stress of their professions. These are all incredibly strong people who shared the impact their work has on their mental well-being, but they also recognized how important it is to manage their stress with what works for each of them. They provide a stellar example of how to cope with the stress of doing the critical jobs they do for us.
As a community we often take for granted that these First Responders will be there for us and keep us safe and healthy. We often forget the impact their chosen professions have on them. This art exhibit serves as a powerful reminder to us of the challenges faced daily by the women and men standing ready for us. It also reminds us that we all need to balance our stressful careers with self care and build our resiliency.
Thanks to Barbara Brown, curator and organizer of the event for putting together this impactful exhibition.