A drawing encouraging people to be kind and spread cheer is the face of Niagara Health’s 2020 Holiday Greeting Card.
Kelia Coles, the seven-year-old daughter of Supportive Care Registered Nurse Lisa Coles at our Walker Family Cancer Centre, is the talented artist behind the grand prize-winning entry of our 14th Annual Holiday Card Contest for kids.
The colourful drawing shows the masked faces of Santa, an elf, a reindeer and healthcare workers beside three ornaments. “Kelia hoped to bring happiness during a very difficult year for all of us,” says her mother Lisa. “Her drawing is a reminder that while we are all different in many ways, we still share a common hope for kindness towards one another.”
In addition to her love for drawing, Kelia is an avid dancer and is enrolled in jazz classes. On top of these interests, she focuses on her schoolwork and enjoys spending time with her family. Kelia lives with her family in Stoney Creek, where she is a Grade 2 student at St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School. “We are very proud of Kelia and all of her accomplishments,” says Lisa. “She is kind and caring and very artistic.”
As the grand-prize winner, Kelia’s artwork will be featured on the Niagara Health 2020 Holiday Card that will be distributed to community partners throughout the holiday season. We are also recognizing winners in the following categories:
Your Favourite: Aaliya Rajgor, age 9, daughter of Sahil Rajgor, Greater Niagara General Site.
(as voted by Niagara Health staff, physicians and volunteers)
Age 3-5: Julia Carpenter, age 5, daughter of Lindsay Carpenter, Greater Niagara General Site.
Age 6-8: Isabel Carile, age 8, daughter of Christina Carile, St. Catharines Site.
Age 9-12: Hanna Gibson, age 12, granddaughter of Susan Gibson, St. Catharines Site.
Niagara Health President Lynn Guerriero, Chief of Staff Dr. Johan Viljoen and Chair of Niagara Health’s Board of Directors Bunny Alexander had the challenging task of selecting the winners. “We received so many thoughtful and talented entries,” says Lynn. “They all reflect our compassionate culture and the spirit of the holiday season in a meaningful way.”
