Artwork isn’t just easy on the eyes; it connects us to something bigger than ourselves and can actually do our hearts a lot of good.

With that in mind, the Canada Council Art Bank set the scene for City BuildHERS to wrap up its participation in JUMP IN. It’s an annual campaign that raises funds and awareness for women’s heart health research, education and programming through the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre.

After a month of daily sweat sessions (or at least some movement), unwinding with art felt like just what the doctor ordered.

CityBuildHERS was founded in 2023 by Jennifer Cross, director of regional development for Chandos Construction, and Kristen Buter, general manager of Cavanagh Realty. Their events have many loyal supporters — including Shelley True, president of marketing and graphic design firm TRUEdotDESIGN — as well as new faces.

The group brings women together from construction, architecture, design, engineering and real estate development, providing them with a space to learn, grow, network and feel empowered.

“We only throw events that we would want to go to,” said Cross, acknowledging how busy everyone’s schedules are. “It should be worthwhile.”

About a year ago, the pair toured the Art Bank, located on St. Laurent Boulevard. “I’m not a very artsy person at all — I fully admit it — but I was awestruck by the really cool art,” said Buter of the facility, which everyone was encouraged to explore for themselves afterward.

From left, Kristen Buter, general manager of Cavanagh Realty, and Jennifer Cross, director of regional development for Chandos Construction, hosted their City BuildHERS event for women in the construction, architecture, design, engineering and real estate development industry at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The Canada Council Art Bank houses the world’s largest collection of contemporary Canadian art, with over 17,000 works by more than 3,000 artists, including many Indigenous artists. Through its exhibitions and outreach programs, it makes the works more accessible, in venues ranging from offices to public spaces.

Art plays an important role in building strong cities, workplaces and communities, said Rebecca Huxtable, manager of art rental. “Art in the workplace is much more than decoration. It inspires creativity, supports employee wellbeing and strengthens corporate culture.”

Studies have shown that looking at and engaging with art can improve one’s health by lowering cortisol levels and calming the mind. Works from the Art Bank collection are featured in such health care centres as the Ottawa Heart Institute. “We see first hand how art plays a vital role with patients, families and also with the health care providers,” said Huxtable.

Speakers included Nazli Parast, clinical manager of the Cardiac Prevention Wellness Centre/Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre. She reminded attendees that heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women. She also shared key warning signs to watch for, as well as strategies for protecting their heart.

She stressed the importance of self-advocating and never ignoring symptoms. “Make sure you’re being heard,” Parast added.

Nazli Parast, clinical manager of the Cardiac Prevention and Wellness Centre/Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, with Lindsay Firestone, director of community engagement and development at The University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Rebecca Huxtable, manager of art rental at the Canada Council Art Bank, at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event, held at the Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Dr. Bridget Thompson was uniquely positioned to bridge health and the visual arts during her presentation. She has a medical degree and also co-owns a contemporary art gallery, called Central Art Garage. She’s actually working on her PhD, so she’ll soon be a doctor twice over.

Thompson discussed the idea of there being two versions of ourselves: “cup full” and “cup empty.” The “cup full” self represents someone who is self-aware and self-caring. The “cup empty” self reflects the depletion caused by life’s demands, leaving little emotional energy to support others. “We don’t want to live in the ‘small self’ too long; she’s pretty stressed out,” Thompson said.

She shared some tricks for dealing with stress, including a simple breathing technique, known as a physiological sigh, that sends a signal to the brain to relax, helping to calm the nervous system and lower the heart rate.

She encouraged the women to participate in mindful art techniques, such as blind contour drawing. It’s where you draw a subject in one single continuous line (without peeking). Because it’s impossible to be completely accurate when you’re not looking at the paper, this activity teaches people to ease up on perfection.

Thompson, who was an engaging speaker, got the room to discuss a piece of artwork by Camille Turner from the artist’s Hometown Queen series as a way of inspiring big-picture thinking and curiosity.

Dr. Bridget Thompson, one of the guest speakers at City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event, led a discussion on Hamilton-raised artist Camille Turner’s Pride and Possibilities artwork. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The gathering also included a fireside chat on the subject of career resilience featuring Melissa Lamb, co-host of CTV Your Morning Ottawa.

Lamb lost her job at the station in 2017 due to restructuring, only to be rehired five years later. The initial job loss was “devastating,” she acknowledged, describing it like a breakup, where one experiences a range of emotions, from anger to sadness to relief (at least she didn’t have to wake up in the middle of the night anymore to get to the station bright and early, she acknowledged).

“You grow through what you go through,” said Lamb. “I’ve definitely had so much growth through that massive career roadblock.”

By the time she returned to CTV, she felt like a new version of the employee she once was. She was now a mother, alongside her husband, Redblacks player Nigel Romick, raising their two children. “They are my world,” said Lamb, also describing her parents as “my village” for all the help they provide.

Lamb said she learned to move past the hurt and resentment she felt from her layoff. “I was able to let it go and move on and close that chapter completely,” said Lamb, who now happily works under a female boss, Jodi Hamilton.

The event featured food, non-alcoholic beverages, take-home gift bags and interactive activities, including a “heart board” where attendees could write what brings them joy on small heart-shaped notes and stick them up on the wall. Responses included family, sleep, nature and being with friends. Someone even confessed to reality TV, proving honesty is also good for the heart.

Melissa Lamb, co-host on CTV Your Morning Ottawa, spoke about career resilience in a fireside chat during the Stronger by Design event hosted by City BuildHERS at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Victoria Merkley, marketing representative at Merkley Supply Ltd., and Shelley True, president of  TRUEdotDESIGN, at the Stronger by Design event hosted by City BuildHERS at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Lindsay Ambridge, director of corporate services for Inside Edge Properties, in conversation at the Stronger by Design event hosted by City BuildHERS on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Maria Martinez, director of project management and construction at PBC Group (a division of CLV Group) and Jie Chen, an architect and partner at DIALOG, at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event held at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Rebecca Huxtable (Canada Council Art Bank), City BuildHERS co-founders Jennifer Cross and Kristen Buter, and guest speakers Melissa Lamb (CTV Your Morning Ottawa) and Dr. Bridget Thompson, co-owner of Central Art Garage. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Nazli Parast, clinical manager of the Cardiac Prevention and Wellness Centre/Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, in discussion with her audience at City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event, held at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Michelle McKendrick, account executive at Altis Recruitment, Alex Dobsky, property manager at Mastercraft Starwood, and Lori Devereaux, director of construction and property management at Altis Recruitment, at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event held at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Audience members shared a laugh during the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event held Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Karine Génier, director of finance and HR at Alliance Engineering and Construction, in conversation with Kristina Hamilton, principal at Hamilton Recruiting, at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event held Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attendees of City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event, which wraps up its month-long support of the Ottawa Heart Institute’s JUMP IN campaign, included a heart board for attendees to share what brings them joy. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, registered psychotherapist Benslyne Avril (Executive Connection Consulting) and interior designer Jessica Gosbee at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event held Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa Community Housing Foundation executive director Traci Spour-Lafrance and PCL’s Evelyn Keri and Cynthia Coffin at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event held Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Audience members reacted with amusement to guest speaker Dr. Bridget Thompson during the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event held at the Canada Council Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, guest speaker Dr. Bridget Thompson and Rebecca Huxtable, manager of art rental at the Canada Council Art Bank, at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event, held at the Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

City BuildHERS, a networking and professional development group founded in 2023, met at the Canada Council Art Bank on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 for the Stronger by Design event. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Krista Killingsworth, general manager of construction at Power-Tek Group/Steric Design and General Contracting, and Catherine Vanderzwan, senior commercial account manager at BDC, at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event, held at the Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From the Chandos Construction team, from left, Cynthia Wang, Lauren Hall, Jennifer Cross and Christina MacLaren at the latest event hosted by City BuildHERS, co-founded by Cross. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Isabelle Chartier (Art Bank) in conversation with Lisa Poirier, designer and owner of WESTYLE Interior Design, at the City BuildHERS’ Stronger by Design event, held at the Art Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Women from the construction and related industries gathered at the Canada Council Art Bank for the latest City BuildHERS event, Stronger by Design. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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