Local artist Kimberly Rideout has set out to create a child-friendly, nature-themed mural for the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Children’s Hospital in Manitoba.
On January 5, 2026, the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba launched a call for local artists from Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, Nunavut, and Saskatchewan to take part in its $2.5-million renovation campaign.
As part of the project, multiple mural submissions will be installed on the walls of CK5, the childhood cancer, blood disorders, and transplants ward within HSC. The renovations include 15 patient rooms, treatment areas, a family lounge, nursing station, and shared spaces. This will be the ward’s first significant infrastructure upgrade since the early 1980s.
A committee made up of art professionals, hospital donors and staff, as well as families and children who have previously received treatment on CK5, will select up to 20 original works. Each selected artist will receive $3,000 in compensation.
Kimberly Rideout, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and now lives in Muskoka, Ontario was introduced to the pilot project by her Manitoban cousin. “They saw the post on social media and tagged me in it with a glowing recommendation,” Rideout says.
As soon as she read the details, Rideout felt compelled to create something. Afterall, whenever her paintbrush hits the canvas, there is often a deeper personal connection that drives her.
“I am a live liver donor, I was blessed to save a friend’s life by donating 70% of my liver in 2018, and then following a few years of personal struggles I found myself facing a terminal Cancer with less than 5% survival rate,” Rideout shares. “So the fact that this mural is for Transplant and Cancer, it’s “me” on a very profound level.”
On July 29, 2021, Rideout decided to paint a mural free of charge to thank the community for its support during her cancer treatment. Touched by the work being done at Andy’s House (Hospice Muskoka), she chose the palliative care residence as the recipient of her artwork. The mural featured Muskoka scenery, wildlife, and Hospice Muskoka’s signature monarch butterflies.
“I’ve struggled as a single mom of three over the years, and at times I don’t have money in my bank account that I can donate,” Rideout says.
“What I do have is a gift that God gave me that I can share.”
The summer she received her cancer diagnosis, Rideout recalls driving by herself, crying, and having a very long chat with God.
“I said, ‘I promise you, if I get to stay here, I will not ever take that for granted and I will continue to do what I love doing,’ and that’s being able to give my talents away and try and make other people smile, even just a little bit.”
Over the years, Rideout has shared her gift generously, donating hundreds of murals to organizations.
Locally, her murals can be found at Andy’s House (Hospice Muskoka), the Pines in Bracebridge, Macaulay Tree House daycare, and the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka.
Each project having a deep emotional significance for Rideout.
“It’s priceless to be able to put a smile on somebody’s face like that and know that you make a difference in an atmosphere that’s going to be used day in and day out.“
Now, Kimberly is inviting the community to take part in her latest work.
From Saturday, January 31 to Sunday, February 1, Rideout will be painting her submission piece LIVE at Home Depot in Bracebridge, ON from 9 am to 5 pm.
Rideout says Sunday will be a special “fun day” for children, encouraging families to stop by and offer creative ideas she can incorporate into the mural.
“In the spirit of this community collaboration, any idea that a child from the community suggest for me to incorporate (because they feel it would be good for someone in the hospital to see), will be tucked in as “hidden gems” of this project. And every suggestion will be somewhere tucked in the mural for the kids staying in that room to find and have lots of surprises to look for.”
All children who participate will have their names entered into a raffle, which will be drawn once the mural is complete.
“Home Depot has been wonderful at being in my corner and supporting me with these community donations,” Rideout says. “I’ve been very blessed to have had the support of Quinn Spencer and the team at Home Depot in the past for a number of murals. Quinn has since moved to Huntsville so when I reached out to Home Depot recently with this project and another one coming up, Mark VanKooy was more than happy to help support me and has gone above and beyond to not only provide the materials, but allow me to do this LIVE in the store in order for me to get some community involvement.”
Mural submissions are due by Monday, February 2, with successful artists notified by Friday, February 20.
This will be the first time Rideout has submitted artwork for a project.
“It’s unusual,” She says. “Because it requires the artist to completely create a full on design that they don’t know will even be chosen, and by the looks of the comments and shares on social media, they could have upwards of over 1000 submissions for this project.”
“If they were to select my mural from all of the submissions they receive, I would be beyond humbled, honoured and absolutely ecstatic. Having undergone some very serious surgeries, and intense hospital stays myself, to know that my artwork could potentially affect and hopefully improve the stay for children facing those battles would mean more than words could say.”
Through her murals, Rideout continues to uplift community spaces and hopes to give children and families walking through hospital doors a reason to smile during the hardest moments of their lives.
Follow Kimberly Dreamscenes Rideout on Facebook to stay informed.
More information about the pilot project can be found through the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.
