Category Archives: News
A wonderful addition to Chemainus Road
Wonderful article about Chemainus
Maria SherlockNorthwest Travel & Life The 1980s were rough for small towns across the Pacific Northwest. The timber industry, a regional commerce mainstay, was drastically declining. Large chain stores (think Walmart, CVS, Target) moved in, and local businesses foundered. But the Canadian town of Chemainus, about an hour’s drive north of Victoria in B.C.’s Cowichan… Read More
Rest in peace Cordell Ensign
The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society is sad to announce the passing of longtime board member Cordell Ensign on Dec. 23. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure this past summer and had further complications the last few months which resulted in his passing. His family was with him. There will be an obituary in… Read More
Chemainus loses a legend
Karl Schutz, age 92, of Chemainus, British Columbia passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Karl was born on May 10, 1930. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialduncan.com for the Schutz family. Statement from Chemainus Festival of Murals Society Dr. Karl Schutz believed that Chemainus’s history and heritage deserved to be celebrated… Read More
Great news for Chemainus and its vibrant arts community
The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society has been approved for an ICET (Island Coastal Economic Trust) grant of $50,000 for the Waterwheel Park Welcome Arch. See the full release below. A big thank you to the following organizations and artist Maynard Johnny Jr. for their help and support in getting this project approved. Grant process… Read More
‘The Day They Closed the Old Mill Down’
Check out the below premiere of a great song spotlighting Chemainus’ history and the murals that have made the town Canada’s Mural Capital. Watch for “The Day They Closed the Old Mill Down” on https://youtu.be/FIkiTOmps24,by Frank Ludwig, scheduled for 9 am on April 6. Ludwig composed the song to commemorate the memory of his parents. Frank… Read More
In Tune With Nature is the newest mural in Chemainus
The People have spoken, and we have a winner in the Chemainus Festival of Murals ‘Name The Mural Contest’! The competition promoted on social media and in the Chemainus Valley Courier drew 71 responses with 149 name suggestions. The society’s executive committee narrowed the field down to 10 names and the full board chose what… Read More
Welcome to our new library
To celebrate the opening of new Chemainus Branch of the Vancouver Island Library Authority, the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society is donating 10,000 bookmarks as a welcome gift. The official opening of the new Vancouver Island Library Authority – Chemainus Branch will take place on Saturday, March 7, at 1 p.m. There will be children’s… Read More
‘Spirit of the Earth’ is on the move…
Art lovers rejoice, the Spirit Of The Earth sculpture, currently on the corner of Chemainus Road and Victoria Street across from the Chemainus Theatre Festival, will move to Heritage Square on Mill Street this summer.
Busy May for Chemainus Murals Society
Hooray, hooray for the month of May, for that’s when members of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society come out to play! Perhaps ‘play’ isn’t exactly the correct word, but the Society, which maintains, restores, and adds murals and artwork to the outdoor art gallery in Chemainus, has two free events planned to help celebrate… Read More
It’s membership time in Chemainus folks
Mark your calendars folks, Chemainus Festival of Murals Society’s annual general meeting is on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. The gathering will be held at the Best Western Chemainus. You must renew, or get a new membership, at least 30 days prior to the AGM to be eligible to vote. Dear Member: 2017… Read More
Chemainus Steam Train has moved across town
The mural Steam Train On Bridge Over Chemainus River has crossed town. Originally created for the side of the Chemainus Visitors Centre in 1982, the well-loved mural disappeared from view when the building was completely demolished by February of 2016 to make room for a new library. In limbo since then, Mural #3 in the Chemainus Festival of… Read More
New Chemainus mural maps on sale
Chemainus, Canada’s Mural Capital™, has new souvenir mural maps fresh off the press! The new maps prepared by the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society, went on sale Sept. 1. They have been produced in a more user-friendly booklet format, with a foldout map, and include all recent additions to the outdoor gallery, including the Society’s… Read More
Chemainus Labyrinth coming this summer
Waterwheel labyrinth will alleviate stress 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… Read More
Spring-cleaning time in Chemainus
Wayne Gilmore, of I Can See Clearly Now, will start washing murals and sculptures on April 10, 2017, weather permitting. The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society appreciates your support and regrets any inconvenience that might occur.
Folks, it’s that time of year
Dear Member: 2016 was a productive year for the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society. Members of the Board of Directors were active in many Society endeavours, as well as the continued preservation of 47 murals and numerous sculptures. This included, but was not limited to: – restoration of Memories of a Chinese Boy by Arthur Cheng;… Read More
Chemainus, we have a winner!
A Sandy Clark painting, come to life after many years in storage in Chemainus, Canada’s Mural Capital™, has a name at last thanks to Tammy Montgomery. Her entry, Meadow Memories, fits the mural to a T, and was chosen from among 50 or so submissions to the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society’s Name the Mural contest. And thanks… Read More
Mural names now official
After lengthy deliberation, the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society has released the official names of the three Emily Carr-inspired murals unveiled in Chemainus in late summer. They are as follows. KEEPER OF SECRETS – INSPIRED BY EMILY CARR MURAL EC3 Painted in 2016 by Cim MacDonald The raven is an important symbol in First Nations… Read More
Win a Tofino Getaway!
Like finding a masterpiece stashed in a closet, a Sandy Clark painting has come to life after many years in storage. Clark’s painting depicts a teacher and students bathed in sunlight in a field outside their school. This mural/painting was commissioned by Marg and Al Johnson, prominent Chemainiacs and business owners. They owned the grocery store,… Read More
All hail The Curator!
Twenty years and counting – not quite a generation, but close to it – that’s how long Cim MacDonald has been Curator of The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society. That’s 20 years of hard work restoring, cleaning and maintaining the appearance of the over 40 murals in the Chemainus outdoor art collection. She helps maintain… Read More
Emily Carr would be proud
The Chemainus Outdoor Art Gallery grew by three murals this summer, as the town’s new Emily Carr-inspired murals were unveiled Saturday to cheers from a small but enthusiastic crowd. The new murals are inspired by Emily Carr paintings and were commissioned by the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society as a continuation of the society’s Emily Carr… Read More
Iconic Chemainus mural to be restored
World-renowned Vancouver artist Arthur Cheng will be returning to Chemainus, Canada’s Mural Capital™, to do a complete restoration of his famed Memories Of A Chinese Boy mural, located on the south wall of the building housing Wing’s Cafe, on Chemainus Road. Please drop by between Aug. 17 and 23 to say hello, and watch a master at work. Born… Read More
Chemainus murals in the news
A hearty thank you to Daphne Goode, of shawtv.ca, for her thoughtful piece on the Willow Street revitalization project in Chemainus, the Rainforest Arts Gallery and the Chemainus Festival of Murals restoration program. Watch it below…
What is behind the Shroud of Chemainus?
Join the fun on Saturday, Aug. 20, between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and help the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society and Anthem Properties celebrate the unveiling of three Emily Carr inspired murals in the lane between Utopia Bakery and Bonnie Martin Restaurant. The three new murals bring the number of pieces of art… Read More
Chemainus revitalization project improves view of murals
The Municipality of North Cowichan recently completed Phase 2 of its downtown Chemainus revitalization project. Phase 1 involved Waterwheel Square and the new parking lot, while Phase 2 revolved around the update of the commercial area of north Willow Street, with seating areas, a town clock and tree planters. Both phases enhanced visibility and access to five… Read More
2016 AGM highlights
BETTER LATE, THAN NEVER Happy Trails to Festival of Murals board members Lynne Landyo, and Mark DuMez, on their retirement from the board at the 2016 Annual General Meeting. Lynne, co-owner of It’s A Small World B&B, served as board secretary for many years. She served two separate stints on the board, starting in… Read More
Newest Board members introduced at AGM
Two prominent Chemainus citizens have joined the Board of Directors of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society. Marlie Kelsey, a long-time volunteer and Chemainus Theatre Festival employee, and Cordell Ensign, a well-know realtor in the Cowichan Valley were voted onto the Board at the recent Annual General Meeting held at the Chemainus Best Western Plus… Read More
Become a FOM Debugger
Welcome to the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society website, updated by volunteers who do their best to keep it current. However, the site is big and ‘Bugs’ do appear. Spelling mistakkes, missing pictures and directions to the wrong place may occur. If you find anything confusing, or not working, please let us know, and we… Read More
Steam Donkey At Work Next in Ongoing Mural Restorations
The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society is fortunate to have talented local artist Cim MacDonald to restore a mural when the original artist is not available. Cim, who was born in Scotland, has been the Curator for the society since 1996. You may have seen Cim busy, during the cool of recent mornings, working on… Read More