Elora Centre for the Arts & Aboyne Rural Hospice Present “The Art of Support – Creative Pathways for Caregiving“
April 15, 2025
One in four Canadians is a caregiver, and one in two Canadians will become one at some point — caring for an aging parent, a spouse with a chronic illness, a child with special needs or another person in their life.
Yet despite the prevalence of caregiving in our society, the experience can often feel isolating, and support can be difficult to find.
To support those navigating this vital role, Aboyne Rural Hospice and the Elora Centre for the Arts are pleased to present, The Art of Support: Creative Pathways for Caregiving — a special community event designed to explore the realities of caregiving through conversation, connection and creativity.
Taking place on Sunday, May 4, from 3:30–5 pm at the Elora Centre for the Arts, this thought-provoking panel discussion will bring together experts in healthcare, mental wellness and spiritual care to discuss the importance of recognizing and supporting caregivers in our communities, and how caregivers — whether paid or unpaid — can find the resources and support they need.
Featured panelists include:
Amy Coupal
CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization
Amy Coupal is the CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO), a charitable organization that exists to support Ontario’s 4 million caregivers who provide physical and/or emotional support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours. A visionary leader with over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, Amy is passionate about mobilizing change through knowledge exchange and collaborations that positively impact the lives of individuals and communities. As a caregiver for most of her life, Amy helped to support her brother who had Cerebral Palsy. She was also a caregiver to her mother throughout her cancer journey and now supports her father through older adulthood.
Trevor Finney
Anglican Priest, Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner, Registered Psychotherapist
Trevor Finney has been a resident of Centre Wellington for the past seven years. He has a keen interest in the intersection of philosophy, theology and psychology, particularly as these overlapping disciplines relate to death and trauma. Trevor is an Anglican priest, Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner (CASC), and Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO). He is the Spiritual Health Team Lead at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto.
Shelley Lillie
Registered Nurse, BScN, Certified in Hospice Palliative Care Nursing
With a career in nursing for the past 40 years, Shelley has a passion for providing and promoting excellent palliative care for patients and their families/caregivers. For the last 27 years, Shelley worked in Centre and North Wellington as a visiting nurse, and as the UGFHT palliative nurse specialist. She is a member of the Aboyne Rural Hospice Advisory Committee which has been working to bring a residential Hospice to our rural community.
Annie Tobias (facilitator)
President and CEO, Proximity Institute
Annie Tobias is President and CEO of the Proximity Institute, a charity set up by the Ontario Hospital Association. Proximity is dedicated to leadership development at the most senior levels in Ontario hospitals and works proactively to address one of the most compelling challenges facing the health care system: future ready leadership to tackle the complexity of the sector. A professionally trained and experienced facilitator and broadcast anchor, Annie has taught in the areas of strategy and not-for-profit governance at leading universities, and is a governor emerita and former Vice Chair of Concordia University. She earned a B.A. in history, Mount Holyoke College (Massachusetts) and an MBA from IMD (Switzerland).
Together, they will offer valuable insights on:
- The emotional, physical and mental health impacts of caregiving
- The societal value of caregiving and how systems can better support caregivers
- Creative and arts-based strategies — including legacy projects — that bring meaning, connection and healing to the caregiving journey
- Resources and networks available to caregivers in our area
This event is the third and final installment of Vibrant Visions: Bridging Arts, Community & Wellness, a new speaker series that highlights the transformative role of community-based and arts-driven approaches to health and wellness. It is presented collaboratively by Aboyne Rural Hospice and the Elora Centre for the Arts.
Event Details:
📅 Sunday, May 4, 2025
🕒 3 PM – Doors Open & Refreshments | 3:30–5 PM – Panel Discussion
📍 Elora Centre for the Arts
🎟 Tickets: $30 ($20 for seniors & students)
👉 Space is limited – reserve early!
All proceeds from this event will benefit two vital community initiatives: the Elora Centre for the Arts’ new expansion, and the development of Aboyne Rural Hospice, which will bring compassionate end-of-life care to our rural community.
“This partnership reflects the deep connection between creativity, care and community,” says Sheila Koop, Volunteer Chair of the Expansion Capital Campaign at the Elora Centre for the Arts. “We’re honoured to host a conversation that will not only uplift any individual in a caregiving role, but also offer practical tools and heartfelt recognition for their role.”
“Caregiving is both a deeply personal and profoundly communal experience,” adds Dr. Clarissa Burke, a member of Aboyne Rural Hospice’s Board of Directors. “This event is a chance to come together, share stories, and explore how we can build a more compassionate future — one rooted in understanding and support.”
For media inquiries or to arrange interviews with panelists or organizers, please contact:
Erinn Steringa
Marketing & Communications Manager
Elora Centre for the Arts
marketing@ecfta.ca
(416) 995-3865
About the Elora Centre for the Arts
The Elora Centre for the Arts is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to igniting creativity, fostering connection and building community through the arts.
As an arts and culture hub for Wellington County, the Arts Centre serves more than 50,000 people every year through exhibitions, performances, community events, summer camps, affordable office and studio space for local artists and arts groups, and a range of programs and services for all ages.
About Aboyne Rural Hospice
Aboyne Rural Hospice is a community-driven initiative to establish a new residential hospice for rural Wellington County. Our vision is to create a 10-bed hospice that offers compassionate end-of-life care in a welcoming, home-like environment, nestled within the natural beauty of Wellington County, and closer to home for our rural residents.
We are actively fundraising to build this hospice on the two-acre parcel of land generously donated by Wellington County. The dream of a local hospice has been years in the making, and the need to build new hospice beds has never been more urgent.
Every day, local residents with life-limiting illnesses, along with their caregivers and loved ones, hope that our community can bring this essential end-of-life option to fruition. We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from our community and remain committed to realizing this vital project: aboyneruralhospice.org