Category Archives: News



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



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





Library bookmark

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











Mural #EC3 — Keeper of Secrets – Inspired by Emily Carr

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





Mural #7 — Logging with Oxen

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