Stunning New Mural Honors St. Boniface Hospital’s Roots and Healing Mission
Patients, visitors, staff, and community members can now enjoy a stunning new mural that brightens Taché Avenue at St. Boniface Hospital. The painting, which took three weeks to complete, is the result of a collaboration between St. Boniface Hospital (SBH), the Higher Learning Foundation (HLF), and the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation (SBHF).
Created by renowned artist Emmanuel Jarus, the mural not only beautifies the vibrant St. Boniface neighbourhood, but also celebrates the hospital’s deep roots in the Red River Valley and the heritage of the Grey Nuns. The canoe featured in the artwork is a subtle nod to our founders, Les Soeurs Grises, who arrived here by canoe more than 150 years ago.
Most importantly, the mural reflects the hospital’s commitment to fostering healing through the arts, complementing the tremendous work already being done through a variety of other initiatives.
SBH has made concerted efforts over the past few years to connect staff and patients to the land and to demonstrate respect for the river and the land on which our hospital stands. As declared by Paul Turenne, Senior Corporate Affairs and Engagement Officer:
“we live in the Red River Valley, and the Red River Valley lives in all of us.”
How It All Started
In 2024, the Higher Learning Foundation launched a call to donate a mural to a local non-profit or community organization. St. Boniface Hospital Foundation CEO Karen Fowler introduced HLF and the opportunity to Paul Turenne.
SBH and HLF then partnered to create a mural on the back of the building facing the river under the title “Thank You Trades.” This collaboration allowed HLF to get to know SBH better.
Later, in 2025, HLF, in collaboration with the Hospital and with funding from SBHF, began working on the mural installation at the front of the building. This partnership ultimately brought the stunning new mural to life.
The Concept behind
Artist Emmanuel Jarus, who has been working with Trisha Kulathungam of HLF on art projects in Manitoba since 2019, was a natural fit for the project. Jarus worked closely with leadership at St. Boniface Hospital to develop a series of concepts themed around nature and wildlife.
Hospital leadership emphasized the importance of creating a mural that would reflect the land as it existed before St. Boniface Hospital was built. This was particularly significant given that the hospital is the oldest in Western Canada.
“We typically target buildings that are home to community building institutions – schools, universities, shelters, and now a public hospital. This mural is a significant project that we are very proud of because it is the first large scale mural in the St. Boniface community at one of SBH’s essential community healing hubs,” said Trisha.
HLF is also looking toward future opportunities. As Trisha further added: “It also inspires us to one day, continue painting public art at more Manitoba hospitals. “
Other Arts-Related Initiatives for Healing
The arts play an important role at St. Boniface Hospital, where they are an integral part of the hospital’s approach to healing and wellbeing. A variety of arts programs and initiatives are offered to bring comfort and inspiration to patients and visitors. These programs and initiatives include the Buhler Gallery, the Art at the Bedside program, regular exhibitions, and art collections displayed throughout the hospital. In addition, Artists in Health Care musicians perform regularly in the Everett Atrium.
Words of Thanks
St. Boniface Hospital is “L’Hôpital de chez nous”! This means that the community it serves is at the heart of everything the hospital does. They has always played a central role in supporting excellence in patient care, research, and innovation. This project, along with many others, would not have been possible without the generosity of the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation’s donor community.
The Hospital leadership expressed its gratitude to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation and donor community for their lasting generosity and support of healing through the arts. Thanks also go to the project’s implementing partners, the Higher Learning Foundation, for their vision, creativity, and dedication.
Echoing this sentiment, Karen Fowler, President and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, said:
“This mural is a wonderful example of the impact of Arts at St. B., which helps create a welcoming, healing environment for patients, families, staff, and visitors. It reflects our community’s commitment to supporting not only excellence in patient care and research, but also the spaces that foster comfort and compassion, continuing the legacy of the Grey Nuns who founded St. Boniface Hospital. We are incredibly grateful to our donors, whose kindness helps bring initiatives like this to life, creating a more vibrant environment for everyone who comes through our doors.”
When asked about the partnership, HLF’s Trisha Kulathungam declared:
“It has been a pretty amazing opportunity to partner with St. Boniface Hospital. We appreciate SBH’s openness to our ideas and we are grateful that they trusted us with beautifying St. Boniface Hospital. Thank you, St. Boniface Hospital and St Boniface Hospital Foundation, for everything! To the community, we hope that this mural is the start to a larger mural art beautification initiative in the St. Boniface community. Thank you for welcoming us with open arms throughout the project!”
What to Expect Next
A more formal launch event with HLF is planned for later in September. In the meantime, patients, visitors, staff, and community members can enjoy and admire the mural’s vibrant new presence along this stretch of Taché Avenue. SBH and its friends and partners remain committed to beautifying our community and supporting excellence in patient care.
