The Volunteers

Dimensions: 6.4m x 3m (21’ x 10’)

Best Viewed: In the lane between Tree of Life Massage and Chemainus Festival Theatre.

“Historical Series #40: The Volunteers”

Former Chemainus Mayor Graham Bruce and former BC Premier The Honourable Bill Vander Zalm are shown cutting the ribbon to officially open the Chemainus Downtown Revitalization Project on April 23, 1982.

The mayor had the foresight and vision to prevent the 1981 recession from impacting on Chemainus. He instigated the project by appointing a committee which guided the revitalization, made recommendations to council and approved the mural project. The committee was made up of Graham Bruce, Alan Hussey, Rex Hollett, Sandra Heydon, Jerry Philippson, Gordon Swanson and Bill Jameson.

In addition, there was the Chemainus “Group of Seven”. Al Johnson, Joe Hudak, Tony Monco, Jack Jameson, Bill Jameson, Vern Kay and Joe Jeles represented the interests of the Chamber of Commerce and were the leading proponents for revitalization.

Others featured in the mural are the first mural artist, Frank Lewis, Martin Thomas, BC’s Revitalization Coordinator and Catherine Fyffe, the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society office manager, as well as Karl Schutz, the official coordinator of the 1981 Downtown Revitalization Project.

Hundreds of volunteers have been instrumental in the success of the Chemainus mural project and this mural is dedicated to every one of them.

(Please drop by the Chemainus Visitors Centre to buy your Official Mural Guide. Proceeds from the sale go to the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society).

For more information on this mural visit:
More about this project

Where to Find This Mural

Location: 9744 Willow St, Chemainus, BC V0R 1K0, Canada Get Directions