NightShift 2014

NightShift’s Art Class is where fun and creativity meet healing and purpose. Created in 2014 by NightShift volunteer Maggie Callander, when one night a week friends on the street were invited to explore NightShift’s art supply closet, full of colour and imagination. With paints, felt pens, crayons, canvases, paper and more, Art Class got creative juices flowing in our Education Room.

Maggie, a professional counsellor, started Art Class because of her love for art, counselling and caring for vulnerable people. With her passion, she built a safe, creative space that allowed people to amplify their voices beyond words. “People don’t feel ashamed at Art Class,” Maggie explained. “Life is up and down, but they can come in here and feel totally, 100 per cent accepted.”

Today, inspired by Maggie’s Art Class, creative works are still happening at NightShift. Our Art Program looks a little different these days, as it is now operated through our Welcome Centre daytime drop-in. Instead of a specific art day, every afternoon holds an opportunity to create with supplies from the art closet. From 2 – 4 pm we open the closet, and visitors are encouraged to explore the art supplies, and engage in creating whatever is on their hearts. This allows people to disentangle from the stresses of life, while expressing emotions and discovering purpose.

NightShift has seen many beautiful pieces come out of our Art Program. Our friends from the street have even gifted us a few works of art. Some of those paintings can be seen in our building’s reception and Welcome Centre areas. Drop by and see!