Art as medicine

Good morning,

The outdoors has always been a source of mental health for me (and I’m sure, many others). While sometimes it’s hard to access, it has a real calming element in my life, being surrounded by nature.

I’ve always found a similar experience when it comes to art. It’s something I seek out while travelling, but less so when I’m home.

Today’s story is all about the calming effect of both, and how groups in Vancouver are using them together in an innovative practice that’s useful for our own health care. Thanks to Julie Chadwick for putting together this story.

Related to this, I am looking to visit more saunas before summer hits. Fire off your favourite spots to me, as there seem to be more and more sprouting up throughout the city.

Let’s dive in.

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder and managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free. 

WEATHER

Monday: 7 🌡️ 1 | ☀️

Tuesday: 6 🌡️ 1 | ☀️

Wednesday: 7 🌡️ 2 | 🌧️

HEALTH

Art as medicine: Doctors prescribe time in nature — and in galleries

Story by Julie Chadwick

It has long been known — at least informally — that getting out in nature can be just the thing to fix what ails you, whether that’s mental, emotional or physical.

But clinical research also backs this up, and shows that being in nature can significantly improve things like immune function and stress levels, while reducing the risk of lung infections and heart disease, among other things.

The Vancouver Parks Foundation took that concept to the next level, and in 2020 came up with the PaRx program, where healthcare providers can prescribe patients time  in nature as part of an overall health regimen.

“I just knew in my own personal life how great I felt when I went outside and I had a lot of personal experiences of times of challenge or things going in your life, where if I went outside and went for a hike, or sat in a forest, or sat by a river, I could feel things kind of drift away a bit,” Vancouver Parks Foundation CEO Andrew Day told Vancity Lookout. “I became interested in the evidence around the health benefits of going outside, and we then built it into our strategic plan as a core pillar of what we would do.”

Day co-founded PaRx with Jennie McCaffrey, the foundation’s vice president of health and education, and Dr. Melissa Lem, a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The initiative has spread across the country to become a Canada-wide program.

It started as a small volunteer-run idea inspired both by a fledgling parks prescription program in the U.S. and the concept of Shinrin-yoku or Japanese forest bathing that emerged following the country’s mental health crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s,  Day said.

“They had essentially made it part of health care, and had built little nature bathing places in different cities. And now they've institutionalized it. So that was all quite interesting,” Day explained. 

The group worked with medical students at UBC  to gather evidence, which then got the project an endorsement from family physicians in B.C. and other medical bodies. The project launched on a provincial level and then spread to every province in Canada.

“We didn't have any external funding, we relied on passionate medical professionals in each province to help organize and lead it,” Day said. Nationally, there are now approximately 20,000 regulated health professionals who have collectively issued more than 1.5 million nature prescriptions.

Putting its own twist on the idea, the Vancouver Art Gallery partnered with the Parks Foundation’s PaRx program to offer healthcare provider-prescribed visits to the gallery, including to its newest nature-inspired exhibit, That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature, which opened Feb. 5.

The show features more than 100 works that focus on renowned artist Emily Carr’s “evolving idea of nature” and draws from the gallery’s significant existing collection of Carr’s art, according to a gallery statement.

The science behind nature prescriptions builds on several core theories, Dr.  Lem explained. Essentially, being out in nature leads to a reduction in stress because busy urban environments tend to stress people out and tax our finite attention spans, whereas time in nature restores our brains. 

“It's a source of soft fascination that we don't have to continuously direct our attention to navigate around, and it just fills back up our attention bucket and reduces our irritability and fatigue,” she said. It also reduces our stress levels because humans evolved to want to be in biodiverse environments — it's rich sources of food, shelter and water signified benefits to our survival and longevity.

“Basically, after a stressful event, if you spend time in nature, the theory is that it just helps you recover faster, because that's where we're drawn to be,”  Dr. Lem said. 

Going outside into nature also typically involves the health benefits of movement and exercise in less-polluted areas, and the reduced stress levels function as a sort of “social lubricant,”  which leads to better social connections, Dr. Lem added.

“Last but not least, phytoncides are these volatile organic compounds that plants and trees release — if you think about a cedar forest, that smell — it essentially is something that these trees and plants release to repel fungi and viruses and insects,” Dr. Lem said. When humans breathe them in, research has documented a natural boost to the immune system and an increase in cells that fight off viruses and bacteria. The effects can last for days or even weeks after immersion in a forest environment.

Dr. Lem also recently joined the board of the World Forum on Forest Therapy, an international platform aimed at mainstreaming the practice of forest therapy across the world, and will head to Korea in May for its first board meeting to set the agenda of scaling up the practice internationally.

The idea of social prescriptions to things like an art gallery exhibit work in a similar way, says Paula Toledo, lead wellbeing consultant for the Vancouver Art Gallery. When the partnership launched last year on World Health Day it marked the first initiative that linked a nature prescription program directly to an art museum.

“There's a lot of crossover with respect to art, and the nature-based art that we have within Emily Carr's exhibition. There are studies and evidence that suggest that looking at images of nature can also be restorative and reduce mental fatigue,” she says, citing a British Medical Journal study that showed people who frequently engaged in receptive arts activities had a 31 per cent lower risk of dying, independent of other factors. “When we notice nature and notice how we feel, there are well-being benefits — feelings of moral elevation, gratitude and interconnectedness to all people and things.”

Toledo became interested in social prescriptions after her spouse died and she was left caring for a baby and a toddler alone at home. She ended up seeing a social care coordinator, who encouraged her to engage in movement, like yoga, and make music with others. 

Already a musician, she began playing, sharing and writing songs again, and though she didn’t think it would make much difference, it ended up being “transformational,” Toledo said.

“After engaging in the arts and movement, something kind of shifted in me. My body started to physically feel better. My mind started to feel more, kind of connected, like, energized to play with my children and enter their worlds of wonder,” she recalled. “That self-efficacy came back where I started to feel like, ‘Okay, I can change things for the better. I know I can do this.’”

Toledo was so inspired by the experience she ended up doing her master's in applied positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where her final project was to envision building a well-being pathway for art-based museum prescriptions to buffer loneliness and enhance well-being and social connection.

Any registered healthcare provider that wants to issue prescriptions can sign up with the PaRx program to start giving these prescriptions to patients. 

The gallery has also implemented what it calls a “slow looking guide” to help take visitors on a mindfulness experience within the exhibit that is part of its Art of Wellbeing Lab pilot project, run by Toledo and Sirish Rao, the gallery’s interim co-CEO.

In addition to the PaRx partnership, the Art of Wellbeing lab has implemented an Art of Wellbeing for Seniors program that combines tours of the gallery with interactive, arts-based creative workshops.

The prescription for the gallery offers free entry for as long as the exhibit is open and includes one guest. That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature runs until Nov. 8.

Did you know the Lookout relies on readers like you to help locals discover our journalism? If you have a moment, please consider sharing this story: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Bluesky | Copy this url

THE VANCOUVER NUMBER

6,559

The number of checkouts by one library borrower at the Vancouver Public Library in 2025. And that’s physical books! While they probably weren’t reading them all, kudos for the effort. Read more. [Vancouver is Awesome]

THE AGENDA

🚇 Federal Minister of Housing and former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson took aim at the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council for not building the Broadway Subway line all the way to UBC in one go. Read more. [Urbanized]

⚽ Could the Whitecaps move to Surrey? It’s all speculation now, but the team needs a stadium and Surrey has expressed interest in building both a new 10,000-person stadium and a new National Training Centre for Canada Soccer. Read more ($). [Vancouver Sun]

👮 Vancouver police announced they are currently undertaking four extortion investigations, where perpetrators try to threaten people and businesses for money. The federal government recently announced an anti-extortion task force, as the scale of extortion grows across Canada. Read more. [CBC]

🪧Democracy Rising held a second rally outside of Hootsuite’s headquarters in Mount Pleasant, calling on the company to cut ties with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The company provides social media management to the Department of Homeland Security, which they say does not include tracking or surveillance. Read more. [CTV]

🪩 The City Centre Artist Lodge will stay open for at least another year. A rezoning for a pair of 20+ storey rental housing towers and business space on the site was approved in early 2025. [Vancity Lookout]

⛽ Noticed gas prices are higher lately in the city? Part of the reason is that retailers are moving back to the summer gasoline formula, while an oil refinery in California’s Bay Area is set to close. Read more. [CityNews]

🏒 It’s been a tough season for the Canucks, which only got worse with the announcement that rookie Jonathan Lekkerimäki will have season-ending shoulder surgery. But in some good news, one of the top defencemen of this year’s draft class, Keaton Verhoeff, says he’d love to play for Vancouver. Luckily for the Canucks they have a chance to pick the top spot in this year’s draft (because the team is the worst in the league) . Read more. [Canucks Daily]

🏠 Well, this certainly won’t help people’s feelings about real estate agents! The Greater Vancouver Realtors industry association is being investigated by the Competition Bureau of Canada, looking at how realtors are paid, how those payments are disclosed on the Multiple Listing and whether it’s an abuse of dominance. Read more. [Business in Vancouver]

🏗️ The old Molson Brewery site near Burrard Bridge could soon become home to businesses and residential towers if council approves a rezoning. It’s part of a controversial plan to turn some of the limited industrial land in the city into housing. Read more ($). [Vancouver Sun]

📉 Toxic drug deaths in B.C. dropped in 2025. 1,826 people died, representing a 21 per cent drop from 2024. Read more ($). [Vancouver Sun]

⚽ The Whitecaps beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 in their MLS season opener on Saturday, and outshot the team 13-10

EVENT GUIDE

Cat Yoga | Catoro Cafe | Feb. 25, 7 p.m. | Somatic yoga practice… with cats afterwards | Tickets $43

From Oysters to Orcas 2026 | Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and Shellfish Market | Feb. 26, 7 p.m. | Enjoy delicious seafood and drinks while supporting a good cause | Tickets $81

Shojin Dinner Club - Vegan Japanese Tasting Menu | Coffee Roastery Modus | Feb. 26, 5:15 p.m. | Four-course tasting menu of Japanese food, along with cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages | Tickets $94

Olive Oil Tasting - "Sagra dell'olio" | 151 Cambie St. | Feb. 26, 5 p.m. | Intimate guided olive oil tasting | Tickets $6

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival | Around Metro Vancouver | Feb. 27-Mar. 11 | Come see the best movies about the outdoors | Full access passes start at $139

Piano Jams at  The Beaumont Studios | Beaumont | Feb. 27, 8 p.m. | Duelling pianos, contemporary dance and all out musical fun | Tickets $25

Chinese New Year Gluten-Free Dim Sum Brunch | 250 W 3rd Ave | Feb. 28, 11 a.m. | Gluten free dim sum, just as it sounds | Tickets $6

Fast Friending | The Library Square Pub | Feb. 28, 7 p.m. | Fun and quick way to make friends for people between the ages of 21-40 | Tickets $11

Cocktail-Paired Brunch | Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar | Mar. 1, 12 p.m. | five course cocktail paid meal | Tickets $129

Raising the Bar: A D/6 Cocktail Masterclass | D/6 Bar & Lounge | Mar. 1, 3 p.m. | Master the essentials of mixology masterclass for building cocktails | Tickets $107

Pay What You Can at Vancouver Museums | H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver | First Sunday of each month, Mar. 1 | Come for free to visit these museums | Free

Polar Plunge for Special Olympics BC | Kits Beach | Mar. 7, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Raising money for athletes, with events all across B.C. | Free registration

Submit your event and it could appear here and reach 30,000+ Vancouver locals.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

How does St. Lawrence’s Cabane à Sucre hold up?

Last week I visited St. Lawrence during their season Cabane à Sucre that takes place each winter.

For those not aware, Cabane à Sucre is a uniquely Quebecois winter experience and so fits perfectly within the purview of Vancouver’s best Quebecois restaurant.

But this experience was a little different than the traditional winter feast you find in Quebec. So how did it hold up? You’ll have to subscribe to our free restaurant review newsletter to read it tomorrow.

NEW VANCOUVER JOBS

Discover your new dream job in Vancouver:

• Head of branding at Rumble Boxing

• Senior manager, regional community marketing at MEC

• Assistant controller at Bond Capital

• General Manager - Sen̓áḵw at Fitzrovia

• Community manager at Rosewood Hotel Georgia

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• This documentary honours a Chinatown dance teacher and her impact on the community. [Global]

• The LEGO SkyTrain brick building kits are back! [Urbanized]

• A pair of sea lions will be moving to the Vancouver Aquarium. [CTV]

• Mahjong is bringing people together in Vancouver. [Global]

Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

STORIES THIS WEEK