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The founder of a southwestern Ontario art gallery says his space is struggling to keep up with demand, as it expands its services to support more local veterans through art healing practices.
The Veterans Wellness Centre and Art Gallery, located in Port Stanley, Ont., opened its doors in spring 2025 as a space for veterans to display and connect through their artwork.
“What we find is that through art, it helps them focus on something else,” veteran and gallery founder James Agesen told CBC’s London Morning.
“They eventually become an artist and display their work in the gallery, which gives them pride when they sell something — and something to focus on other than the hamster wheel going around and around in their head,” he said.
“People can actually clear their head for five or 10 minutes. They can look at a blank canvas and either put their emotions onto the canvas, or put a good memory on the canvas.”
James Agesen is an artist and the founder of the Veterans Art Gallery in Port Stanley, Ont. (Josiane N’tchoreret-Mbiamany/CBC News)
In the year since, the space has grown to include art therapy classes, peer support groups, wellness retreats and even help with complex paperwork, becoming an essential spot to help veterans transition back to civilian life.
However, Agesen said that he doesn’t have the funds to keep up with the increasing number of people taking interest in the centre.
“We can’t serve all the vets that are available to us. There’s a lot of people who would love to join our program, but we just don’t have the financial resources to bring them in at this point.”
Art as a healing tool
A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Agesen said attending an art class and connecting with a mentor was an important part in his own healing journey with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“It took me from a very dark place. I was an alcoholic, with just a messed up life. [My mentor] helped me walk through the steps through art, and I want to give the same opportunity to other people,” he said.
WATCH | Take a look at this art gallery for veterans:
An art gallery just for veterans and first responders
The Veterans Wellness Centre and Art Gallery in Port Stanley, Ont., is a space for veterans to gather, showcase their creativity and heal through artwork. CBC’s Kendra Seguin explains how gallery founder James Agesen is expanding the centre to help veterans in new ways.
Jacob Tuft, who is from a multi-generational family of veterans and was part of the Royal Canadian Regiment, said he’s been using art as a healing tool for years, but the Veterans Art Gallery gave him his first opportunity to see his work on a gallery wall.
“There is definitely a sense of pride and a whole flood of emotions come through,” said Tuft, who also sits on the gallery’s board of directors.
Tuft said the gallery also supports first responders, including police officers and fire fighters, who are looking for ways to explore and express their emotions.
“Especially for men, talking about how you feel and trying to describe that in words can sometimes be challenging,” he said. “The healing power of art is that it’s unspoken.”
“It can be very isolating for both veterans and first responders, so to be able to come together to share stories and be with your peers, where you don’t really need to share words, you can just be in the act of creating.”
The Veterans Art Gallery is open to visitors on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Submitted by James Agesen)
However, Agesen said art isn’t the solution for everybody, and is often one piece of a more complex healing journey.
“It’s medication. It’s psychological help. We’re just one piece of the pie,” he said.
Gallery open to visitors
There are more than 100 pieces of artwork on display, Agesen said, some of which are available for purchase.
Visitors can check out the gallery from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the spring.
Admission is by donation, which Agesen said goes towards free veterans art classes at the centre.
LISTEN | How art helps veterans and first responders address trauma:
London Morning6:34Using art to heal trauma
A new gallery in Port Stanley is uplifting veterans and first responders through art. James Ageson founded the Veterans Wellness Centre & Art Gallery in Port Stanley and he told London Morning how making art brings peace to veterans and first responders and a way to channel their trauma.
