THE WILD LILIES STORY
May 13, 2010 12:10 pm
Please join us on May 29th for an elegant evening as we celebrate the contribution of women like Emily Carr and the Sisters of Saint Ann and work towards a "Future Without Breast Cancer".

In 1936, Emily Carr (1871- 1945), one of Canada’s greatest artists and authors, lost her older sister, Elizabeth, to breast cancer. At the time, the words “breast” and “cancer” were rarely spoken. During her illness, Elizabeth was cared for by The Sisters of Saint Ann, a group of religious women who from their time of arrival in 1858 dramatically changed the face of education and health care in the Pacific Northwest. The Sisters provided care to Elizabeth at Saint Joseph’s Hospital until she passed away from the disease.

Emily painted an oil painting of white fawn lilies and the painting is believed to have been a favourite of Elizabeth’s. It is different, both in style and subject, than most of Emily’s work. After Lizzie’s passing, the Carr Family presented the Sisters of Saint Ann with this painting in appreciation for the care given to Lizzie while a patient in their hospital.