In my acrylic helmet painting Strength and Honour, an intelligent, beautiful polar bear stares out from the helmet face. It’s an appealing bear, but there is a reminder to beware, it does have teeth.

To the left side of the helmet, is a group of red poppy badges, a symbol of the honour we owe our veterans, by remembering. Red poppy flowers and their buds, which symbolizes the living honour of the soldiers, grace the right side of the helmet. A chrome metal band circles the helmet, representing the soldiers’ “mettle” and the polar bear’s sea ice life line. The realistic painting of a red sugar maple leaf on the back of the helmet speaks to our Canadian connection.