Waterwheel labyrinth will alleviate stress

Casey, The WonderDog, keeps an eye out for Tom Andrews, FOM president and Ken Stanton of Castle Cove Builders as they start preparations in Waterwheel Park for the new labyrinth in Chemainus.

By Peter W. Rusland
Of The Courier CHEMAINUS – Cowichan’s first public, meditative labyrinth should be ready for walking by summer, says Tom Andrews, president of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society.
Site preparation work, donated by Ken Stanton of Castle Cove Buildings, is ongoing on the unique 40-foot diameter concrete labyrinth in Waterwheel Park.

“We took out part of the old playground that was decrepit and dangerous for kids to use,” Andrews said of the project that will cost about $40,000 to complete.

That sum includes a $5,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Chemainus, and a requested $5,000 grant from North Cowichan council, he noted.

Andrews also applauded Surespan Concrete for donating cement for the labyrinth as work progresses, allowing for proper drying time.

Once the concrete is laid “you place a stencil on the finished concrete and sandblast the labyrinth design of the path,” he explained.

“It’s a meditative experience outdoors. The FOM thinks of the labyrinth as interactive art,” he said of the two-colour circular path in Waterwheel’s calming, treed setting.

“It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the centre, then you retrace your steps back out – it’s about a half mile in total.”

During the trip users forget daily stress as they simply focus on walking the intimate path.

“It has a relaxing, meditative impact on your state of mind,” said Andrews.