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<b><span style="font-size:10.5pt">For Immediate Release </span></b>
<br><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><br>The Penticton Art Gallery Invites Public Participation in
MAID in Canada Exhibition<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt">Exploring Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying Program
Through Personal Perspectives<br>
<br>
Exhibition Title: </span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt">M.A.I.D. in Canada<br>
<b>Location: </b>Penticton Art Gallery, Penticton, B.C., Canada<b> <br>
Exhibition Dates: </b>March 23 – May 11, 2024<br>
<br>
<b>Penticton, BC - March 4, 2024 ~</b> The Penticton Art Gallery is seeking the
public’s input on Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Program in the
form of handwritten or typewritten letters, or emails. The letters received will
be displayed in the gallery from March 23 – May 11, 2024, as part of our MAID
in Canada exhibition. <span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">The intent of this exhibition is to provide the
community with a safe space to reflect, talk and explore the impacts and the
implications of Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Program. If it
hasn't impacted your life already it’s only a matter of time before you or
someone you know will be directly impacted by it. Since coming into law in 2016
over 50,000 Canadians have received medically assisted deaths. In 2022, the
total number of MAID provisions increased by 31.2% (2022 over 2021) compared to
32.6% (2021 over 2020) and the annual growth rate in MAID provisions has been
steady over the past six years, with an average growth rate of 31.1% from 2019
to 2022.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">Our aim is to create a forum for dialogue by putting a
human face on the overarching impact of the MAID program, providing a personal
context that highlights individual experiences and perspectives. Whether you're
currently considering MAID or have had a loved one contemplate or undergo the
program, your individual perspective is a valuable tool in helping us
collectively process and come to terms with the impact this has and will have
on our society. Recognizing the deeply personal nature of Canada's medical
assistance in dying (MAID) program, we believe your unique perspective will
help shed light on the impact of this social policy and help us foster a more
informed and compassionate dialogue. Through this collective sharing, our
exhibition aims to contribute to a more compassionate, empathetic, and caring
society.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">There are no right or wrong answers and there is no
agenda advocating either for or against this complicated and highly emotionally
charged aspect of our society including our legal and health care system. In
doing so I also realize that each of us brings our unique perspectives which
have been shaped by our individual experiences and beliefs and these
perspectives are subject to evolution and possibly change as the circumstances
of our lives unfold. This exhibition is a direct response to my own lived
experiences over the past few years, during which I've known at least a dozen
individuals who have chosen MAID. For those who were confronting a terminal
illness and enduring excruciating suffering, MAID may appear to have been the
most compassionate option. However, for others—especially those for whom
natural death wasn't imminent—coming to terms with the implications of MAID has
left many unanswered questions. Setting aside any questions of morality, it's
undeniable that MAID presents a challenging subject, fraught with genuine risks
and uncertainties both in its current implementation and in any potential
expansions in the future.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">When I first considered this as an exhibition, the
eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) for individuals solely
suffering from mental illness was set to come into effect on March 17, 2024.
This controversial expansion raised significant concerns with over 50
disability organizations opposing it in a joint letter to the justice minister
in December 2022. They expressed concerns about the interconnected
relationships among increasing socioeconomic disparity, social isolation,
inadequate affordable housing, and food insecurity which have all contributed
to a mounting climate of anxiety and rising addiction rates, exacerbating our
growing mental health crisis. In 2023, the heads of psychiatry at all of
Canada’s 17 medical schools called for a further delay, arguing that
determining the irreversibility of mental illness is an impossible task and
raises genuine concerns about the potential tragic consequences of expanding
the MAID program. The advocacy efforts of this coalition are directed towards
ensuring accessibility to affordable housing, food security, mental health
treatment, and addiction support to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
Responding to these concerns, the Government of Canada introduced legislation
in late January seeking to further extend the temporary exclusion of those
suffering solely from mental illnesses until March 17, 2027.<span></span></span></p>
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As mentioned above this exhibition has been driven by my own lived experiences my
observations, conversations I have had with other who have gone through this
and/or are considering this as an option and all the questions, I have been
left with to process as a result. The public's participation is crucial in
helping us shape a more informed and compassionate dialogue surrounding the
impact of the MAID program will have not only on our lives but our society in
general. Irrespective of your stance on this issue, we deeply acknowledge that
your unique experiences and insights hold immense value in enriching our
collective understanding of this complex matter and we are inviting to the
public to lend their voice and contribute to this crucial conversation through
the medium of a personal letter. Each letter holds the potential to contribute
significantly to the depth and diversity of our collective understanding.<br>
<br>
<b>There are three ways you can contribute to this conversation and
contributions will be accepted through the course of the exhibition.</b> <br>
<br>
<b>1) In person: </b>Penticton Art Gallery, 199 Marina Way, <span> </span>Penticton, BC, V2A 1H5<br>
<br>
<b>2) By Mail:</b> MAID in Canada, C/O Penticton Art Gallery, 199 Marina Way, <span> </span>Penticton, BC, V2A 1H5<br>
<br>
<b>3) By email:</b> <span style="color:blue"><a href="mailto:curator@pentictonartgallery.com" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:blue">curator@pentictonartgallery.com</span></a>
</span><br>
<b>* Note: Please include the following in the subject line:</b> <b><span style="color:red">MAID in Canada Submission</span></b><span style="color:red"> </span><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">Each letter submitted will be handled with the utmost
respect and reverence, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to engage,
reflect, and respond at their discretion. While you are most welcome to put
your name to your letter we also respect and understanding the sensitivity
inherent in this topic, we prioritize creating a safe and comfortable space for
everyone to express themselves fully and your letter can be submitted
anonymously, providing the assurance that everyone is welcome to share their
thoughts and reflections freely without needing to reveal their identity. Your
voice is pivotal in shaping a more informed and compassionate dialogue
surrounding this crucial issue. <br>
<br>
Thank you again for your consideration, compassion, and trust. <br><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">~ Paul Crawford, Penticton, B.C. <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">
<br>
For more information, please visit <span style="color:blue"><a href="http://www.pentictonartgallery.com">www.pentictonartgallery.com</a>
</span>or contact Paul Crawford, Director/Curator at: <span style="color:blue"><a href="mailto:curator@pentictonartgallery.com" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:blue">curator@pentictonartgallery.com</span></a><span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:blue"><br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt">- 30 -</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span></span></span></p>
<br clear="all"><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color:rgb(255,255,255);line-height:0px;font-size:1px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse;width:500px"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" 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src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zFxBYSJmJ44xiDdXKePmzBj8P3GFF_Nilc2u2H1mwIJ_rx57sHMIyrfhn6lMAgoI3_sAU35Uo"></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td width="10" style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;padding-right:10px;width:10px"></td><td width="1" style="border-collapse:collapse;background-color:rgb(0,0,1);width:1px;vertical-align:super;padding:0px"></td><td width="10" style="border-collapse:collapse;padding-right:10px;width:10px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><br><br></font></td><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse:collapse;line-height:19px;font-weight:700;padding:0px"><span style="line-height:19px"><font color="#073763" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif" size="4">Paul Crawford</font></span></td></tr><tr><td style="border-collapse:collapse;line-height:17px;font-weight:700;padding:0px"><div><font color="#000000" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Director/Curator</font></div><div><font color="#000000"><span style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif"><font size="2">(He/Him/His)</font></span><span style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif"><br></span></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-collapse:collapse;padding-bottom:3px;height:3px"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse:collapse;line-height:17px;padding:0px"><span style="line-height:17px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif" color="#000000"><b>1.250.493.2928</b><br>199 Marina Way, Penticton, BC V2A 1H5 </font></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="line-height:0px;padding:0px;border-spacing:0px;margin:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse:collapse;line-height:17px;padding:0px"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.pentictonartgallery.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);line-height:17px;display:inline" target="_blank"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif" color="#000000">pentictonartgallery.com</font></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><br></font></span></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div style="text-align:left;color:rgb(80,0,80);font-size:small"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded,</font></span></div><div style="text-align:left;color:rgb(80,0,80);font-size:small"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">traditional territory of the syilx (Okanagan) People.</font></span></div></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>