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The inclusive nature of Megan Parker's art project during the 2024 Alberta Aphasia Camp was a highlight for Tiffany Badiuk and Ian Martens, who joined their father, Johnny Martens, at camp, as it allowed every camper to feel their contributions were valuable.

Helen Swartz began attending Alberta Aphasia Camp in 2014, the first year it ran, and the weekend camp became an annual tradition for her and husband Mark. She never missed a year.

“It was, simply put, one of the most wonderful, beneficial experiences for Helen and for me to attend this camp,” says Mark Swartz. “She was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of going to camp every year because she would meet with people who were in a similar boat.” 

The camp, which runs every September, allows people living with aphasia to spend a weekend with a few family members or friends enjoying nature and activities that have been made accessible for all campers. All staff and volunteers are speech-language pathologists or occupational and physical therapists, either trained clinicians or students in training, with the skills to ensure each camper has a stellar experience. 

The programming is similar to what you’d find at any summer camp, including outdoor pursuits like kayaking and archery, and even a talent show. But it was the art room in particular that became a favourite spot of Helen’s. 

As her primary progressive aphasia worsened and it became increasingly difficult to find the right words, it was painting — a hobby she’d picked up at camp — that gave her new ways to express herself.

“She would bring her paintings the next year and show us,” says , co-director of Alberta Aphasia Camp and professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. “We have a few other campers as well who have become involved in art. I think it’s an important means of self-expression when words are hard to come by.” 

“We had paint brushes and acrylic paints and canvases all over the house,” says Mark Swartz. “I have many of her pieces still here. And my kids have a couple of pieces each as well.” 

He saw the impact the annual camp had on Helen every year, and after she passed in 2023, he decided to set up an endowment to honour her legacy by supporting arts programming for the camp so future campers could find their voices through creating art like Helen did. 

As Kim and camp co-director were trying to figure out the best way to enhance arts programming at the camp, an opportunity presented itself. Artist and occupational therapist Megan Parker, who had worked with Ruelling previously in the , reached out to see whether there would be any interest in her leading some type of collaborative painting project with the campers.

Kim and Ruelling loved the idea, and for the 2024 Alberta Aphasia Camp, Parker set up shop in the art room. She transformed her initial painting concept into a series of five canvases that would allow more campers to engage with the work at once. The project was an ongoing activity that weekend, with campers able to drop in and paint whenever the mood struck them.

Tiffany Badiuk and Ian Martens, who attended the camp with their father, Johnny Martens, remember how accessible Parker’s set-up made participation. Campers were able to feel like they were making a meaningful contribution to the piece, Badiuk says. 

And with their attention focused on the painting, many campers felt more comfortable speaking openly and honestly. Conversations flowed as the rotating cast of campers brought the series of paintings to completion.

“Previous to having aphasia, Dad had a big voice,” says Badiuk with a laugh. “He had a lot to say, he was part of the conversations, and I still want him to be part of them.”

“It’s such a safe, comfortable place for people with aphasia to come together in this community and know, ‘I’m not the only one going through this. I’m not the only one feeling this way,’” says Martens. 

“It’s this fun camp, but there’s something deeper there, where we can come together to understand each other and to connect,” he adds. 

As someone experiencing chronic illness herself, Parker often uses her own art as a tool for healing and self-expression. 

“It just gives you a different way to communicate and share, particularly around vulnerable or hard things. I think that’s where art is really strong at communicating.” 

Serving as artist-in-residence at the 2024 camp and providing that opportunity for the campers was “life-changing” for Parker. 

“I left feeling like my soul was just completely satisfied. It was just such a powerful experience.” 

2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the camp, and Kim and Ruelling hope to see it continue for many years to come. 

“The focus and purpose continue to be the same — to provide interprofessional training for our students and to provide an opportunity for people in the community living with aphasia to connect and have a supportive weekend where they can do things they wouldn’t necessarily be able to do otherwise,” says Ruelling. 

“For one weekend in the year, people can come to camp and forget about their aphasia,” says Kim. “That’s really our goal, to provide that chance for people to re-engage and participate in activities or discover new ones in ways that are accessible to them.”