The Roots of Wisdom explores end-of-life decision-making
01/14/2026
On the heels of the recent national art competition, The Art of a Good Death, Sarina Isenberg, Chair in Mixed Methods Palliative Care Research at Bruyère Health Research Institute, has launched The Roots of Wisdom, a new art-based installation that offers the public a way to grapple with the difficult topic of end-of-life decision-making.
First opened to the public at the Ottawa Art Gallery, the exhibit has now moved to Bruyère Health’s Saint-Vincent Hospital, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and share what matters most at the end of life.
At the heart of the project is tree sapling, designed by Canadian artist David Rayfield as a powerful and universal symbol of the cyclical nature of life, representing capacity for growth and transformation, knowledge and wisdom.
“End-of-life decisions are among the most personal and complex we face, yet they’re rarely discussed until it’s too late,” said Isenberg, the project’s principal investigator and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. “This project provides a creative and compassionate space for people to reflect and contribute to important research.”
Only 17% of Canadians currently have an advance care plan. The project aims to change that by sparking reflection and dialogue well before a medical crisis forces rushed decisions.
The Roots of Wisdom merges social science, palliative-care research, and artistic creation into a novel approach that invites participation through simple, yet profoundly important questions – What are your core values? What goals guide your life? What does a “good death” mean to you?
Participants’ contributions will shape a larger, second-phase art installation, featuring a tree with leaves, fruit, and flowers inscribed with collective values, goals, and meanings of a good death. The project’s insights aim to support better goals-of-care discussions, more compassionate healthcare experiences, and improved alignment between patient wishes and end-of-life care.
This exhibit offers a unique opportunity for the public to meaningfully shape research, clinical practice, and community understanding around life’s final chapter.
The Roots of Wisdom is on display in the atrium of Bruyère Health’s Saint-Vincent Hospital from January 11 – February 12, 2026, and at the Ottawa Public Library’s Stittsville branch from February 12 – March 12, 2026.
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The Roots of Wisdom: A Pilot Research-Creation Approach to End-of-Life Decision Making is funded in part by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant.