A lifestyle Brand + Social Enterprise
The BraveArt Project empowers those impacted by domestic abuse through therapeutic art, advocacy, and community connection.
Our work is rooted in compassion, creativity, and community. Every purchase funds real-world impact and allows us to:
- Donate art kits to domestic violence shelters across Canada
- Lead trauma-informed art workshops for survivors, professionals, and communities
- Fund programs through BraveArt merch, mindfulness colouring books, and sponsorships
- Advocate for systemic change through storytelling, awareness, and education
A Vision for Healing Through Creativity
Our mission is to create safe, empowering, and creative spaces where survivors, allies, and supporters can connect, heal, and express themselves through art. We use art as a tool for healing, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.
Our vision: A world where every survivor has access to the healing power of creativity and community.
Why BraveArt Exists
Over 44% of Canadian women over age 15 have experienced intimate partner violence. Nova Scotia declared gender-based violence an epidemic in 2024. Nearly 1 in 3 survivors experience long-term mental health challenges such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression.
Research shows that art-based healing can reduce PTSD symptoms by up to 50% in trauma survivors, improving focus, mood, and hope.
Founder + Lead Artist
Jessie Taylor is a nationally recognized trauma-informed coach, speaker, advocate, and artist with more than 20 years of experience across the corporate, healthcare, government, and nonprofit sectors.
A survivor advocate and changemaker, Jessie founded The BraveArt Project to merge her professional expertise with lived experience, helping others heal through art, advocacy, and creative empowerment. Her work bridges creativity and healing, offering survivors powerful tools for recovery, resilience, and connection. Jessie has facilitated workshops and trauma-informed trainings across Canada and has been featured on national platforms for her leadership in domestic violence awareness, mental health advocacy, and post-traumatic growth.
Fiercely committed to using art as a catalyst for both individual and systemic change, Jessie’s approach blends science-based strategies, art-based healing, and a whole lot of heart, reminding every participant that healing is brave, and creativity is powerful.
Chief Cuddle Officer
Max the Goldendoodle (he/him)
Meet Max, BraveArt’s beloved Chief Cuddle Officer and unofficial emotional-support specialist. With a natural gift for stress reduction, he brings warmth, comfort, and calm to everyone he meets.
Animal-assisted support, like Max’s presence, has been shown to reduce anxiety, regulate the nervous system, and promote emotional healing. Max reminds us that healing doesn’t have to be complicated, sometimes it’s simply about connection, comfort, and a really good nap.
He takes his job seriously… and his treats even more so.
Follow Max’s adventures on Instagram: @braveartns