Murals for Lake Cowichan? A make-it centre so local creative people can share resources? An arts and culture walk along the Trans Canada Trail?
An enthusiastic group of women from the Cowichan Lake Arts and Culture Society put forward these ideas and suggested they have even more on the back burner when they spoke to Lake Cowichan town council on Tuesday, April 4.
Spokesperson Loretta Puckrin said the group is looking to be considered a resource by the municipality, a group of people who are always willing to help put community-building plans into action.
Members have been hopefully looking forward to get into the so-called Kasapi Centre — the old restaurant building on South Shore Road that has recently come into the town’s hands. However, concerns about the condition of the building and the asbestos there have delayed any possible use of the space.
But, they’re not folding their hands and waiting for that to happen. The group is enthusiastically brainstorming, looking at ways to involve the community, according to Puckrin.
Councillors were delighted with the group’s willingness to look at ideas, new or old.
Coun. Tim McGonigle said that the murals idea has “come full circle” because it was first discussed 25 years ago.
Several iterations of the idea have been tried in the community since then but Coun. Lorna Vomacka raised a major concern, saying that she saw maintenance of such projects as being of equal importance, as the mural currently on the side of the Fields store was painted some years back, but no one is around to see it looked after and repainted as needed.
Other councillors suggested that, as some businesses simply repaint their buildings on a regular basis, careful consideration would be needed in choosing spots for such artwork.
Mayor Ross Forrest said he had seen examples elsewhere of some very attractive paintings done on municipal recycle bins.
Coun. Bob Day said, “I’m super excited about the murals process. I can think of lots of cool places to put them. But, I want to see some history on our walls. There are lots of great pictures at the Kaatza Museum.”
He suggested, and other councillors agreed, that the group should come to an advisory planning council meeting and make their pitch to the members of that group.