Brentwood’s People In Your Neighbourhood for October

September 30, 2024

Enthusiasm Abounds

by Lee Hunt

A new mural is taking shape in Brentwood under the auspices of the Brentwood Community Association (BCA).

As I write this article on September 2, our new mural (in the underpass where Brisebois Drive goes under Crowchild to become 40 Ave NW) is about half finished.

So many people have stepped up to help and the BCA extends its grateful thanks to all of them.

Initial thanks to Jordan Smuszko for allowing us to set up our organization and food canopy in The Village parking lot.

Though the underpass wall (the “canvas”) measures 6,500 sq. ft., eight volunteers took only three hours to paint on the white base coat. Kudos to Isabel Chan, Rob Ferguson, Darlene Griffin, Eva Gustafson, Mary Resch, Melanie and Jeff Swailes, and Tanner Zwick.

This was followed by professional artists Layla Folkmann and Lacey Wilburn, along with their assistant Leanne Kembel, outlining their design on the wall. Lacey and Layla have worked together for 14 years and have created murals in Montreal, Fort Macleod, and Iceland as well as in Calgary.

Next came three turbulent but exciting days as 52 youth artists (ages ten to 18) arrived to help paint! Saturday morning was especially lively as about 15 youth volunteered for that shift! Our thanks to all the youth plus their Youth Central Team Leaders Anwar, Eamon, and QK. Watch for your names on the mural and in the November Bugle.

Thanks also to Eva Gustafson and Tanner Zwick who helped “shepherd” our youth and keep them on task.

You are likely getting an idea of how many people have been involved in creating Brentwood’s newest mural.

And here come some more:

Our Major Funders

• Brentwood Community Enhancement Fund (administered by the City of Calgary)

• The Calgary Foundation

• Activate YYC

• City of Calgary Inspiring Neighbourhood Grant

Our Brentwood Donors

• Brentwood Co-op

• Brentwood Freshco

• Danny Wai

• Duguay Construction Inc.

• E & G Purcell

• E. Holtby

• G. Nelson

• L. Hunt

• Len Webber, MP

• R & S Ferguson

• S & T Allen

• Youth Central Society

Thanks For Your Help

• Bonita McCurry – BCA President

• Brentview Baptist Church: Julie Peters, Stepanka, Brenda, Marina

• C. Brust

• City of Calgary

• Councillor S. Chu

• E. MacKenzie

• E. Davis

• I. Chan

• L. Hunt

• L. VanHolst

• L. Boychuk

• S. Choudhary

• S. Dietrich

• S & P Johnson

• The Village

You likely know the expression, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Perhaps I could alter that to, “It takes a community to create a mural.”

Stay tuned to the November Bugle for photos of our finished product. Or better yet – why not walk, cycle, or drive through the underpass to see the new mural for yourself?