My initial idea for this piece was dementia can happen to anyone. Different ages (younger than a lot of people think). It is slowly robbing me of so much except my art. I wanted to show that you can’t tell by appearance, but we need to be aware as a community. I want my picture to make people want to know more. I’d love people to say how can I help. I want to be a part our community. There must be other people like me❤️.

To show an inclusive community, I depicted all of Haldimand County, the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation reserves in the overall shape of my design. I used Forget-me-not flowers as a symbol of dementia and situated the blooms where the brain would sit in the profile. Small black seeds have fallen from the flower to show ideas being planted; the seeds are situated approx. where towns are located. The green area transforms into an open palm, holding the roots of the plant in ‘Haldimand clay’ to show support and a cycle of regeneration. The mouth of the profile is open and emanating sound waves which merge into ripples at water’s edge. I used gradating sunset colours to bring attention to the silhouette. They represent an age element but also brightness, warmth, and positivity. I hope the overall impression of this mural shows that thoughts, hands, and voice are always invited to be shared in a dementia-friendly community! 

“Spirit of Community” is an image with the rising sun, a new day, a new beginning, the Eagle soaring… acknowledging the gathering, seeing life from a higher perspective. The foreground represents the Grand River that flows and connects all communities in Haldimand. The grand ripple effect is the flow of “hearts” love within our community. The Blue Heron is a symbol of strength and direction.