Community Art Initiatives

There are currently two collections in Community Connection:

  • Association des résidents du village d’Aylmer (ARVA) Collection
  • Changemakers Series in the Aylmer Collection, created in collaboration with the Aylmer Bulletin and the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW), coming soon.

As this work grows, more stories and community voices will continue to emerge. Each portrait strengthens our connections. We are committed to keeping this initiative free for the people it supports. If you are able, please consider donating so we can continue sharing these stories.

Association des résidents du village d’Aylmer (ARVA) Collection

The ARVA Collection celebrates the people who help shape the heart of our neighbourhood. Each portrait features a resident connected to ARVA, including past and current board members, dedicated volunteers, and community members involved in social and advocacy work. These paintings honour the quiet labour of care, collaboration, and local leadership that often goes unrecognized. The collection invites us to truly see one another, to acknowledge the work being done every day to strengthen belonging, and to remember that community grows through relationships, commitment, and shared hope.

I wanted to create something that shows the bonds that hold us together. This collection highlights the many people who make Aylmer a welcoming and supportive place. It is also a thank you to those who show up and look out for each other. It reminds us that community is not built alone. We build it together. - Bianca 

Changemakers Series in the Aylmer Collection

The Changemakers Series in Aylmer shines a light on local organizations that support essential needs in our community: access to food, safe housing, mental health, cultural celebration, and a sense of belonging.

Each portrait recognizes the often-unseen people who work every day to ensure others are supported, welcomed, and included.

These profiles will be published throughout the year, featuring organizations located in Aylmer or serving Aylmer residents. Together, they reflect a shared commitment to strengthening our community and caring for those who too often fall through the cracks.

The series is guided by an intersectional and GBA Plus perspective, intentionally highlighting organizations that support a wide range of needs and identities, including Indigenous youth, seniors, people with diversabilities, newcomers, families, and more. The goal is to show how diverse community efforts come together to build a more inclusive and compassionate Aylmer for everyone.

"As a resident of Aylmer, I realized I knew my neighbours but not the organizations supporting our community. Learning about their work inspired me to share their stories and highlight how they care for the people around us. It also gives them space to express what they need, whether volunteers, donations, or support. This collection honours their efforts and reminds us that our neighbourhood grows stronger through the care we build together." - Bianca

Each portrait stands on its own, but together they show how our lives touch one another. 

  • The spirals in the paintings represent growth and healing.
  • The five elements symbolize balance and our connection to one another and to the world around us.
  • Participants choose the colours, flowers and honoured elements.

 

The portraits honour the people and organizations we rely on, and reveal the networks of support and strength that make community possible. They remind us that care, relationships, and the work we do in our community are linked, even when we don’t always see it.

Participate and support

You are invited to be part of this project.

  • Share your story or nominate someone for recognition and help the project grow through community voices.

  • Sponsor a Portrait of Hope for someone going through a difficult time.

  • Support the work by purchasing prints, original pieces, or other items from the Art Shop; every purchase helps keep Portraits of Hope free and supports the ongoing creation of this work.

  • Take home a piece of art and help strengthen the circle of care that connects us all.

I also invite not-for-profit community organizations, foundations, and citizen associations to reach out if you would like to collaborate on a portrait series that reflects your work, stories, and impact.