Three New Murals Unveiled
by Lee Hunt
Mural 1 – Phoenix Ng
Mural 2 – Tyler Hochhalter
Mural 3 – Kalum Teke Dan
The next time you are going past Captain John Palliser School (CJP) on Northmount Drive, check out the three new murals (Mind you, if you are driving, please pull over first!).
CJP Assistant Principal Jana El Guebaly told Brentwood Community President Bonita McCurry and me that the students were initially asked for ideas as to what should be in the murals. Many put forward aspects of nature with trees, birds, and mountains being particularly popular. This input was given to the 15 artists who initially applied, and each prepared a sample drawing.
Next a committee of teachers and parents chose the three winning designs.
The three selected artists – Kalum Teke Dan, Tyler Hochhalter, and Phoenix Ng “all met with the students to talk about their respective mural content and process.” (Jana El Guebaly)
I had an opportunity to speak with artist Phoenix Ng at some length. She is a fourth-year student at the Alberta University of the Arts. Phoenix drew on the students’ wishes by including flowers, mountains, a large tree, plus baby birds in a nest eagerly awaiting mom’s return with food. Phoenix went on to say that the nest “represents the school as a place of warmth and security for the children.”
Kalum Teke Dan’s canvas is especially dramatic with a man in apparent supplication to a large eagle with wings widespread. In Kalum’s commentary, he says that his mural “represents dreams and imagination, encouraging viewers to explore, discover, imagine”.
Tyler Hochhalter’s design is more on the abstract side colourfully reflecting flowers, rain, and sky. In Tyler’s words, “some of us are flowers, some of us are clouds, or the rain. We all fit together like a puzzle.”
All three murals celebrate the energy and artistic side of the students and staff at CJP. A special salute to the CJP Parents’ Association which funded the new murals.
Thanks also to the four food trucks plus the Calgary Public Library which provided nourishment for the body and the mind of those in attendance at the mural unveiling.
Congratulations and thanks to all who were involved in creating these three wonderful new murals in Brentwood!
Congratulations To Cale Makar!
by Lee Hunt
Congratulations to Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar on winning this year’s Norris Trophy!
A graduate of Brentwood’s Sir Winston Churchill High School, this was Cale’s second time winning the NHL’s Norris Trophy which is awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position as voted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.” (NHL)
Presentation of the Norris trophy was made at his parents’ home where Cale’s wife, parents, other family members, plus friends were able to share in the honour and excitement.
In his typical humble manner, Cale credited his teammates with the award saying, “to have the group of guys that we did… it seems cliché to say, but it’s truly a team award.”
Cale has also been named to play on the Canadian Men’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics to be held in Italy from February 6 to 22, 2026.
Congratulations, Cale!
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