LITTLE CURRENT—The Northeast Town has officially approved the final image for the Canada 150 mural, which will transform the Campbell Street ramp in Little Current.
SA•WAT•SKI Concept Reality based out of Collingwood was the successful bidder on the project at $14,900 plus HST, which will be funded through a $15,000 grant from the Ministry of Canadian Heritage Celebration and Commemorative Program the Northeast Town received to celebrate the community of Little Current through Canada’s 150 years.
The Northeast Town council was specific in its vision for the mural, wanting it to incorporate Little Current’s First Nation founding fathers, the town’s sawmill history, a representation of Little Current’s war history and area landmarks (including the swing bridge).
The winning mural includes the migration of Anishinaabe following the War of 1812, the Picnic Island and Red mills, the downtown dock circa 1920, Little Current’s first car ferry, the steamship Hiawatha, the swing bridge complete with train, the coal docks and the Strawberry Island lighthouse.
There were concerns from councillors when a draft of the mural was brought to council in March that there were no women represented, or farmers. Staff were directed to bring the concerns back to the designers to be incorporated.
A final draft was approved by council at its meeting last week. The wall will need to be prepared prior to the installation of the mural, with the exact start date hinging on its completion, although the hope is to start on the mural after the May long weekend.
The mural is estimated to take one week to complete and staff will shut the southbound lane of Worthington Street during that time. Southbound traffic will be detoured up the Campbell Street ramp.
