Peter Schiefke received an artwork to commemorate his role as the Honourary President for this year's Relay for Life for cancer research.

The artwork was created by local artist Phillippe Corriveau and was presented to Schiefke outside his riding office in Vaudreuil-Dorion on June 29.

Schiefke, the federal Liberal Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil-Soulanges, told Corriveau he deeply appreciated the gift.

Corriveau came up with the concept for his creation after a brainstorming session with colleague Nadine Bissonnette, the Logistics Director for the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Relay for Life and a cultural mediator.

The concept revolved around empty pill bottles and filling them with elements that are meaningful for cancer victims who underwent treatment for their disease, Corriveau told Néomédia.

"We thought it was a great idea to encapsulate those memories with items inside the bottles that are meaningful for the people who battled cancer," said Corriveau.

"It's about leaving the old memories of recovering from cancer behind and replacing it with something positive. It's also to show that as group people are stronger than the disease," Corriveau added.

The arrangement of the pill bottles into a circle on the canvas represents the annual Relay for Life event where people walk together within a circle around a track and represents the bond created between cancer victims and their supporters, said Corriveau. 

A wonderful gesture 

Schiefke told Corriveau and Bissonnette he was very touched by their gestures and gift and will display the artwork in his office at Parliament in Ottawa when he returns for a visit in early July.  

"This has a lot of meaning for those who walked in this year's Relay for Life and for me. I'm so grateful to have taken part in this event and raise the funds as a community for the Canadian Cancer Society. They do phenomenal work," said Schiefke.

"It's sad to say but you only truly appreciate their work when you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer. The first thing I did when I was diagnosed with cancer was go to their website. The information was reassuring to me and it made me realize I wasn't alone," he added.

The 2023 Relay for Life took place at Olympic Park in Pincourt on June 10 and raised $143,000 for cancer research.