Therapy with heart this Valentine’s

February 9, 2026

Client Aline Viau holds up the Valentine's Day cards she created during recreation therapy at Providence Care Hospital for the Valentine’s for Veterans program. — *Client Aline Viau holds up the Valentine’s Day cards she created during recreation therapy at Providence Care Hospital for the Valentine’s for Veterans initiative.*

At Providence Care Hospital you can find a group of clients on Parkside 0, a mental health unit, colouring Valentine’s Day messages. It’s therapeutic, fun, and an anchor for social time. But today’s colouring session, put on by Recreation Therapist Gabrielle Noonan and supported by Behavioural Technologist Carole Palmer, is also giving back to the community in a positive way. These Valentines will be sent to the initiative Valentine’s for Veterans.

“Right now, we have a group who really enjoys colouring and finds it therapeutic, so we’ve been using it as a mindfulness tool,” explains Gabrielle. “An important part of this project and what makes it therapeutic, is the element of giving back to the community. Being able to contribute to something bigger—something that reaches people across the country—adds meaning to the experience and is a very special thing to do together.”

For the last three weeks, clients have come together in the unit’s dining room, colouring small pictures, writing uplifting messages to veterans from “a friend,” and then cutting them out and mounting them onto card stock. Client Aline Mary Rita Viau never misses a session.

Client Aline Viau colours a Valentine’s Day card during recreation therapy at Providence Care Hospital for the Valentine’s for Veterans initiative.

“I’m so happy to do this,” says Aline. “I can’t play sports, I don’t like swimming, but I really like this, and it’s about time we do something for the veterans.”

As Aline colours and thinks of the veterans these cards will be sent to, she’s brought back to her time as a young woman attending evening dances at the local legion with her sisters. She tells stories to the group while laughing.

It’s reminiscing and storytelling that Carole says is an important part of the therapy sessions.

“This is an activity that really gets people talking about stories and feelings of being grateful for living here in Canada,” she says. “It’s inspiring to see the client’s excitement and their messages on the cards. It’s also something we’re able to build upon week after week, which is meaningful.”

Behavioural Technologist Carole Palmer and Recreation Therapist Gabrielle Noonan and pose with Client Aline Viau during a recreation therapy session where they create Valentine's Day cards. — Behavioural Technologist Carole Palmer [left] and Recreation Therapist Gabrielle Noonan [right] pose with client Aline Viau during a recreation therapy session where they create Valentine’s Day cards.

In her role as a behavioural technologist, Carole supports clients in participating, ensuring the experience is inclusive and promotes wellbeing and personal growth.

“This activity may seem like a small gesture, but it can mean many different things to our clients and gives them a meaningful way to express their gratitude. It’s a simple but powerful way for all of us to give back.”

“The activity acts as a bridge,” explains Gabrielle. “It brings together what clients love to do with the chance to support and uplift others’ mental health.”

After three weeks of card creation, Gabrielle is able to mail 247 cards to Veteran Affairs Canda. From there, they will be sent to veterans across the country.