Murals used to deter vandalism

The Hackett Park washroom facility is being transformed one mural at a time, and the community will soon be invited to get involved.

The public facility was built by the Rotary Clubs of Sechelt and Sunshine Coast - Sechelt in 2008. However, vandalism has always been an issue.

Sunshine Coast RCMP reports show problems ranging from graffiti to broken glass to fires at the public washroom over the years.

"So we thought that if we got the community involved in painting murals all around it they would have a sense of ownership and the vandalism would stop," said Rosemary Jones of the Sunshine Coast - Sechelt Rotary Club.

She had the idea of painting a large mural depicting Sechelt along the outside wall facing Trail Avenue, but she wanted to involve local youth.

Sechelt Interact Rotary Club teens Rosi Hunter and Coral Robinson answered her call.

Interact is Rotary Inter-national's service club for young people aged 12 to 18.

"When I was given the task of representing Sechelt in one picture, I immediately thought 'land between two waters,'" Rosi said.

She came up with a flowing water design that beautifully complemented a central orca Jones created, along with a sun and mountains in the background of the piece.

Coral added salmon to the artwork that has room for more sea life to be depicted.

"That's what we want is other people to get involved," Jones said, noting she will plan a public painting party to add to the mural in the future.

She would like members of the public to email her their artistic impressions of sea life found locally so she can arrange to finish off the first mural and start on a second one if the interest is high enough.

"It's important that they coordinate with me, though. We don't want people just going there and adding their paintings," Jones noted.

The two young artists who helped Jones get the first mural substantially finished are rightfully proud of their work and hope it will last for generations to come.They also see the benefit of getting more people involved in order to instill a sense of community ownership in the building.

Jones noted that local businesses Gibsons Build-ing Supply and supplier Benjamin Moore also saw the project's merit, donating hundreds of dollars worth of paint to the cause.

If you would like to take part in the next phase of mural painting in Hackett Park, email your proposed submission to Jones at [email protected].