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From everyone here at the McDonald Institute, we wish you a merry and joyful holiday season this year.

The artwork for this year’s holiday card is licensed from local Kingston artists Dakota Ward and Jaylene Cardinal of W.C. Creatives.

This piece is a prayer honouring the sacred roles of mothers and grandmothers, the first teachers, the carriers of love, wisdom, and generational strength. Their presence is woven into every part of our lives, just as each element in this artwork is connected within the greater universe. At the heart of the painting sits the dream catcher, a living web of memory and protection. Its spiralling energy represents how the teachings of our matriarchs radiate outward, shaping who we are and who we become. Surrounding it, the feathers act as messengers, carrying our hopes, griefs, and gratitude into the spirit world, reminding us that we are never alone. Grandmother Moon watches gently from above, her warm glow guiding our emotional tides and nurturing our intuition. She is the eternal grandmother, steady, patient, and full of quiet power. The universe around her is alive: stars, ancestors, and spirit beings create a cosmic landscape that holds all our stories. Together, these elements speak to the deep interconnection between family, spirit, and creation. This artwork is an offering of thanks to the matriarchs who lift us, protect us, and remind us of who we are. It celebrates their enduring influence and the way their love continues to ripple through generations, as infinite and expansive as the night sky.

Learn more about the artists on their Instagram and Facebook pages.