By Sara Chow
Kevin Belmore with Painting_Feb. 6, 2014 002Kevin Belmore with Painting

Local art has found a way to inspire health and well-being through cancer screening services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). Local artist Kevin Belmore has shared his creativity with Prevention & Screening Services at TBRHSC to develop a logo for their cancer screening initiatives with Aboriginal patients and families.

Prevention & Screening Services reaches out to Aboriginal communities to promote and provide cancer screening services. In order to promote cancer screening more effectively they wanted to create a symbol that was representative of Northwestern Ontario’s Aboriginal people. In partnership and collaboration with members from the Aboriginal Cancer Committee and Belmore, a culturally relevant piece of artwork that symbolizes the benefits of taking care of your health through cancer screening was designed.

Belmore has always been a gifted artist, but he started to focus on Aboriginal art in 1989. Since then, he has continued to create vibrant, eye-catching pieces. His original acrylic paintings are brought to life by his captivating use of colour and the way in which he is able to capture emotions and stories. Symbolically, this logo represents a holistic approach to health, well-being, and cancer screening for men and women. Belmore says, “This logo was designed for Aboriginal people to get in touch with their health. A lot don’t for whatever reasons, but it’s important for everybody to look after their health.”

In Northwestern Ontario, cancer screening rates for all eligible women and men are low. Only 26.5% of eligible adults, 50 years and older, complete their colorectal cancer screening. One of our region’s most accessible cancer screening services is the Screen for Life Coach that travels to over 60 locations, including Aboriginal communities, across Northwestern Ontario. On board the coach, women 50 years and older can access breast and colorectal cancer screening services and women 30 years and older can access cervical cancer screening services.

Ambe-mino-bimaadizi-da. Come let us live a good life.

For more information or to book an appointment call: (807) 684-7777 or toll-free 1-800-461-7031.