10/15/2026
A new mural by local artist Colin Cook is bringing colour to the Aberdeen Hospital cafeteria, inspired by the people who walk through the hospital every day.
“A hospital is a place where people can experience just about every emotion imaginable," says Colin. "There can be fear, uncertainty and difficult days, but there can also be healing, hope, relief and incredible acts of kindness. I wanted to create something that could interrupt the clinical feeling of a hospital. Something that gave people permission to stop, look, breathe and perhaps let their mind go somewhere else.”
Colin designed the mural with that experience in mind, creating a piece of art that offers something new to notice the longer you look at it. “Your eyes might see the entire mural first, but then you begin discovering the smaller details. That gives your mind somewhere to wander for a little while. And, in a hospital especially, that can mean a lot.”
Having his work become part of the Aberdeen Hospital is especially meaningful for Colin, who has lived and worked in Pictou County for most of his life. “Almost everybody around here has a story connected to the hospital. We’ve walked through those doors for ourselves, our children, our parents, our friends and people we’ve loved. Having my work become a permanent piece of that place is something I’m extremely proud of.
“I don’t expect a painting or mural to change what someone is going through. But I absolutely believe art can change a moment within it. If this mural can give somebody one peaceful breath, one smile or one moment where they aren’t thinking about why they’re at the hospital, then it has done its job.”
The mural adds a finishing touch to the recent redesign of the Aberdeen Hospital cafeteria, a project made possible through a generous gift from community member Arnold Selway, who wanted to give back to the hospital in appreciation of the care and kindness he had received over the years.“It’s just a friendly place. My friends, my family, we’ve all experienced it," said Selway. "There’s a sense of people working together.”
Read the full story behind the cafeteria renewal project: https://aberdeenhealthfoundation.ca/news/cafeteria-renewal/
