Collingwood artist who survived colon cancer partners with art gallery to give back to hospital

Jill Stevenson, a colon cancer survivor and co-chair of the Palette of Hope event at the Mountainside Gallery on Hurontario Street in Collingwood, Ont. (CTV News/Chris Gary)

A Collingwood woman who’s beat cancer is recognizing the hospital that was so instrumental in her care.

Jill Stevenson, who happens to be an artist, has partnered with an art gallery in the town to put on a live painting and auction fundraiser.

Stevenson along with her friend and owner of Mountainside Gallery, Maria Lamon, are hosting the Palette of Hope together with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.

The three-day event that runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will feature a silent auction with 22 pieces donated by local artists.

On Thursday there will be four artists painting live, which Stevenson says is a real treat for people in the community.

“People like to see the process,” Stevenson says. “People love to look at painters.”

The opening reception on Friday, which is already sold-out, will have a ‘Battle of the Brushes’ where two artists battle it out and create a painting together in under half an hour. The public can place bids on the painting afterwards in a live auction.

Painting, Stevenson says, is a passion she finds relaxing, therapeutic and makes her get lost in the moment and forget about time.

“I love to paint,” Stevenson says. “It’s the kind of thing I can start doing at 9 ‘o clock in the morning and by 6 ‘o clock in the afternoon, the day has just gone.”

Lamon says when Stevenson approached her with the idea, she was on board right away.

“I always love to do something for a good cause and I think eventually everybody will need to use the hospital, so we might as well start early,” Lamon says.

She has a passion for supporting local artists and getting their pieces in front of more eyes.

“I also love to help artists to get their work known, the gallery to get more exposure, so the combination was perfect.”

Now cancer-free, when Stevenson was diagnosed with colon cancer a year ago, she says she was highly impressed with the treatment she received from the hospital but said it needs a makeover.

“The hospital itself is disgusting,” Stevenson says. “It’s so old and they’re doing everything they can to keep it together.”

“What we have in Collingwood is good staff, but what we need is a new hospital.”

Lamon is relieved her friend is cancer-free and by doing this event, hopes more people will have a similar, positive experience.

“Just to know she’s cancer-free right now is super,” says Lamon. “And hopefully it’ll be like that for a lot of other people that we are helping.”

Lamon has been overwhelmed with the community response and believes everyone has a helping hand in them.

“People should know that we all have to help,” Lamon says. “We all have to put a little bit of the effort to help for this hospital to be a reality. The sooner the better.”

When it comes to how much money they’re hoping to raise, Stevenson says she would be thrilled with $10,000 but Lamon is aiming higher and has her sights set on $20,000 or even $25,000. Stevenson says with a smile she’s thinking they’ll meet somewhere in the middle.