A cat helping a mouse in a wheelchair tipped the scales in favour of this year’s selection in the Niagara Health System’s Holiday Card contest.
From a field of 45 entries, eight-year-old Viktoria Cubelic of St. Catharines has been selected as the artist of the 2009 NHS holiday greeting card. As the winning entry, Viktoria's artwork is now on the front cover of the NHS holiday greeting card, being distributed to community members and partner organizations throughout the region and province.
With a centerpiece of a cat pushing a mouse in a wheelchair, Viktoria’s watercolour includes a Christmas tree and stockings hanging by the fire with the words Holiday Cheer. Viktoria is the daughter of Susan Cubelic, Regional Director of Pharmacy. The family resides in St. Catharines, where Viktoria is in Grade Three at Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School.
Viktoria worked really hard on her submission, her mother says proudly. “She wanted new paints and brushes so she could do her best,” Susan Cubelic says. “She worked on it for weeks to get it just the way she wanted, and it’s wonderful to see her hard work being acknowledged.”
In October, all children and grandchildren aged 12 or under of NHS staff, physicians and volunteers were invited to participate in an artwork contest giving them the chance of being selected as the acclaimed artist of the card. Judges were Board Chair Betty-Lou Souter, CEO Debbie Sevenpifer and Chief Communications Officer Christine Clark.
"We were impressed by the quality and the detail in Viktoria’s work and particularly liked the idea of a cat helping, rather than hurting a mouse,” said Debbie Sevenpifer, NHS President and CEO. “It was a pleasure to see all of the entries and Betty-Lou, Christine and I had a difficult time selecting the overall winner. Our staff members have some very artistic children and grandchildren.”
"It is always a pleasure to be involved in this heartwarming and inspirational project," said Sevenpifer. "Hospitals are serious places so this contest really gives staff an opportunity to engage their children and grandchildren in something lighthearted."
Winners in each of the three age categories were also selected. They are:
- Ages 3-5 - James Martinelli, 4, St. Catharines, grandson of Joan Martinelli, Charge Nurse at Port Colborne Site
- Ages 6-8 - Monica Pastore, 7, Fonthill, daughter of Kerry Pastore, Resource Centre Representative at Welland Site
- Ages 9-12 - Leah D'Aloisio, 11, St. Catharines, daughter of Rita D'Aloisio, Medical Radiation Technologist at Greater Niagara General Site
This is the third year for the contest. Viktoria will be presented with her prize of art supplies valued at $100 and her framed artwork at an upcoming Board of Trustees meeting.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Caroline Bourque Wiley
Consultant, Public Affairs
905-378-4647, ext. 43113
cwiley@niagarahealth.on.ca
