A SPLASH OF COLOUR BY THE WATER

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks will be launching a community mural project in Kanaka Creek Regional Park in the near future. The mural will be under the 240th Street bridge at the Fish Fence site – a popular area for strolls along the creek, especially to view spawning coho and chum salmon in the fall. The artwork will be in three interconnected locations: under the bridge, along a retaining wall west of the bridge, and on the bridge pillars.

It’s an ideal site for a mural. Many educational programs are conducted there to teach students and community members about salmon, and about the “fish fence” installed in the creek each fall to obtain broodstock for the nearby Bell-Irving Hatchery

The mural will add dynamic colour to the site. It will tell the story of the salmon lifecycle, their connection to our ecosystem, and the importance of habitat preservation and conservation.

TIMELINE & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Fall 2021: Online and in-class workshops, as well as in-park field trips, for surrounding schools, families, seniors, and community.

Winter 2021/2022: Community feedback on a draft mural concept.

Spring 2022: On-site painting by the Artist and community members – in a safe way, following any public health guidelines that may be in place at the time.

CREATING TOGETHER

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks is collaborating with several partners on this project: City of Maple RidgePacific Parklands FoundationKwantlen First NationFisheries and Oceans Canada, and Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society.

MEET THE ARTISTS

Todd Polich is a public arts specialist with extensive experience engaging communities. In 2008, he founded the Earth Foundation to create large-scale public art that promotes environmental conservation, as well as the Art of Empowerment Program, which is designed to engage all ages, demographics, and artistic levels in each step of the mural process, from concept to creation. Todd has worked with over 5,000 youth on more than 50 large-scale projects.

Working alongside Todd is Carman McKay, a Consultant and Contributing Artist of the mural project. Of Musqueam and Matsqui heritage, Carman is a self-determined artist, Life Skills Facilitator, Drum Maker, and an educator and cultural resource for a variety of communities throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

COMPLETED: NOVEMBER 2021

Participating students explored Kanaka Creek Regional Park with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks interpreter and KEEPS for inspiration and to learn about the importance of what lives there.

COMPLETED: JANUARY 2022

Pictured below: Student work from Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School, Mr. Pasqualotto’s grade 12 art class, inspired from their visit to Kanaka Creek Regional Park.

COMPLETED: FEBRUARY 2022

FREE: Business of Art Online Workshop

Ages 17+

Are you an up and coming artist who wants to learn the business of creating independent art? 

Todd Polich, the artist working on the Kanaka Creek Mural Project, is offering a free workshop that will cover topics such as strategies for starting and building a successful career as an artist, working with clients and potential clients, proposal writing, pricing of work, communication, delivery of product and marketing work for future projects. 

Part 1: Feb 7, 6:30-8pm

  • Where artists go wrong
  • Defining your business
  • Entrepreneur skills
  • Investing in an art career
  • How to find work as an artist

Part 2: Feb 28, 6:30-8pm

  • Communicating with potential clients
  • Pricing your work
  • Should you turn down work?
  • Project scope, expectations, and budgeting
  • Proposal writing
  • Presentation skills
  • Setting short and long term goals as an artist

Please email vanessa.lee@metrovancouver.org to register and indicate which days you’d like to participate in.

COMPLETED: APRIL – MAY 2022

In-class art workshops with participating students. Just look at this young creative talent!

Thanks very much to the students who created salmon-related artwork during their in-class art workshops led by Todd! Their ideas and art will be represented within the mural.

– Melissa Affleck’s class from c̓əsqənelə Elementary

– John Rondpre’s class from Kanaka Creek Elementary

– Dean Neufeld’s class from Albion Elementary

– Joseph Pasqualotto’s art class from Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary

Albion Elementary Classroom Art

Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary Classroom Art

COMPLETED: JUNE 2022

Painting on-site with students. Things are coming along “swimmingly!”

COMPLETED: SEPTEMBER 2022

Project complete! The community mural project in Kanaka Creek Regional Park tells the story of the salmon lifecycle, their connection to our ecosystem, and the importance of habitat preservation and conservation. The mural is under the 240th Street bridge at the Fish Fence site – a popular area for strolls along the creek, especially to view spawning coho and chum salmon in the fall. Go check it out!

Thank you to our Supporters & Partners for making the Kanaka Creek Mural Project possible!

We would like to acknowledge that the land where this mural is located is on the shared territories of many Indigenous Nations including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and, in particular, we wish to thank these local Nations: Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui, Musqueam, and Semiahmoo.