Children’s colouring book helps raise funds for Michael Garron Hospital
By JULIA SAWICKI
After a tumble involving a slide, a somersault, and a bouncy castle, five-year-old Temple found herself in the emergency department at Michael Garron Hospital with a broken arm.
Scared and hurting, the little girl sat in the hospital surrounded by her family, her mother Claire Seaborn, and her beloved teddy bear. She was also cared for by what she proudly describes as “awesome” orthopedic and pediatric nurses and doctors.
Then, amid the stress of the day, something small but unforgettable happened.
“My teddy bear got a cast too,” said Temple with a smile.
It was a simple gesture, but for a little girl facing a frightening experience, it made all the difference.
With a post-hospital popsicle and lots of rest, both Temple and her teddy bear soon made a full recovery. Before long, their matching casts came off.
But the experience stayed with Temple. The kindness she received inspired her to give something back to the hospital that had cared for both her and her bear.
Together, Temple and her mother have created the Colour the East colouring book featuring some of East Toronto’s most recognizable landmarks, with all proceeds supporting Michael Garron Hospital.
“Temple and I both love colouring, and she often asks me to make things for her to colour. Then it turned into a whole book,” explained Seaborn.
She and her husband have been fundraising for Michael Garron Hospital for five years. As members of the Impact Council, a group of young professionals at the hospital who take on fundraising initiatives, they have hosted the Good Laughs comedy show, raising more than $100,000 for the hospital.
This time, she wanted to create something that would be accessible to children and hopefully inspire them to get involved in charitable causes themselves, and remind them that even small acts can make a difference.
Seaborn and Temple spent time exploring neighbourhoods across East Toronto, photographing beloved local landmarks, from the Leuty Lifeguard Station to the “Welcome to Greektown” sign.
The images were then transformed with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), customizing prompts to add playful details such as people and animals while keeping the illustrations simple enough for children to colour.
Seaborn acknowledged the ongoing debate surrounding AI but believes it can be a force for good when used thoughtfully.
“There’s obviously a lot of challenges with AI. It needs to be regulated and there are a lot of issues with it,” she said.
“To me, this is a positive use of AI. I don’t know if I would have had time to make something like this for a charitable cause without it.”
Colouring books are available for $15 at local coffee shops throughout the community, and so far, more than 200 copies have been sold, halfway to the family’s goal of 400. Seaborn said the support has been so strong that she regularly finds herself needing to restock the cafe shelves.
The colouring book can be found at ZAV Coffee, Morning Parade Coffee, Judy’s Cafe, The Willow (formerly Haven), PouredCoffee, Black Canary Espresso Bar and Dineen Outpost.
What started out as a trip to the hospital and a teddy bear has transformed into a community project, rooted in supporting the people and places that help us when we are most vulnerable, proof that even small acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.
