My name is Marcia Aftimus, and I am a British Columbia-based visual artist. My contemplative artwork has already been welcomed into Cowichan Hospice House and the new Cowichan District Hospital, where my work was created to bring moments of calm, beauty and connection into healthcare spaces.

Through that experience, I began thinking about another way art could support people and families during a very tender time of life.

That is how Treasured Moments was born.

Treasured Moments are small (8"x8"), handcrafted shadow boxes created especially for hospice families. Each piece begins with one of several peaceful scenes — a garden, a window filled with birds, a place by the water, or a bridge surrounded by nature — and can then be personalized to reflect something meaningful about the person: who they are, something they love, or simply a moment that feels special to their family.

They are about honouring the person, celebrating what matters to them, and creating something beautiful for the family to hold onto.

Every shadow box is made by hand. I prepare and print the illustrations, cut and paint each element individually, hand-paint the background, build the different layers to create depth, add dimensional details, and personalize the final piece. Using a photograph provided by the family, I create an individual illustrated figure so the person becomes part of the chosen scene.

My first goal is to create 30 Treasured Moments shadow boxes for families at Cowichan Hospice House, offered at no cost to the families who choose to receive one.

I am raising CA$3,000 to make this first group possible. Each finished piece costs approximately CA$80 to create, including the shadow box frame, printing, painting and art materials, dimensional supplies, protective packaging, and the time required for preparation, production and personalization.

Participation in Treasured Moments will be completely optional. This first group of 30 boxes will allow us to introduce the project gently, learn how families respond to it, and understand how it might grow in the future.

My hope is simple: that art can bring a little beauty, warmth and joy into an extraordinarily meaningful time and that each Treasured Moment can become something uniquely theirs.

Every contribution, no matter the amount, helps create one of these handmade pieces for a hospice family.

Thank you for helping me bring Treasured Moments to life.