City of Powell River councillors have shown interest in a mural project for young people as proposed by lawyer Stacey Fletcher.
In correspondence to councillors, Fletcher stated that she works with youth in her criminal law practice and she’s trying to reduce the number of criminal charges she sees for graffiti. Fletcher added that several of her clients see themselves as artists, not criminals, and it was her hope to find them an alternative to putting their art onto local businesses.
At the February 18 committee of the whole meeting, councillor Earl Almeida said attended the creative cities conference in October 2024, and one of the items he learned was for the past nine years, Vancouver has run a mural fest, where murals have been painted on buildings, floors and walls all around Vancouver.
“It has really beautified the city,” said Almeida. “Seeing Ms. Fletcher’s letter brought memories of attending that conference. Right now the main request is for space. I’m sure there are some commercial spaces that have walls.”
Councillor George Doubt said the new wastewater treatment plant has a wall that is begging for an iconic mural to be painted on it.
“Everybody who goes by Powell River or goes out fishing in a boat looks at that big, blank wall,” said Doubt. “If we don’t get together and get something iconic that would mark out the City of Powell River and say this is our place and this is what we are, if we don’t fill up that space, somebody else will.
“When you look around Townsite, you look at what has been done on some of the pump stations where the sewage pipes are. They have decorated those pump stations with murals and they stay clear of graffiti.”
Doubt said the plant wall is a huge billboard and should be the first place where something is done.
Councillor Cindy Elliott said it would be cool to find a space where there could be a competition for people interested in doing a large mural on the wastewater treatment plant.
“We have an amazing mural on our water treatment facility that was brought forward as a proposal by the artist,” said Elliott. “If we could provide an opportunity where local people could compete for the opportunity to do the mural and have a concept design that was approved, that might be a really good way to promote local mural artists.”
Councillor and committee chair Rob Southcott said Fletcher had addressed her correspondence to qathet Regional District and qathet School District as well, plus the ministry of children and family development and Powell River Child, Youth and Family Services Society. He said the correspondence could probably be referred to the Marine Area Business Association and Powell River Chamber of Commerce, also.
“It really sounds like a community-type project,” said Southcott. He asked City chief administrative officer Lisa Bhopalsingh if staff had connected with Fletcher.
Bhopalsingh said she didn’t believe staff had connected with Fletcher. She said staff had some conversations around possible options and were aware that Fletcher had contacted other governments and societies, and might find a solution through them. Bhopalsingh said a possibility for the city would be the skate park at the recreation complex.
“We can definitely reach out to [Fletcher] and engage to see how successful she has been with the school district and other options,” said Bhopalsingh.
The committee directed staff to reach out to Fletcher.
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