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Calling on the community for inspiration for Canada 150 mosaic

In celebration of Canada's 150th birthday, the community of Bonnyville is creating a masterpiece that reflects the area's roots, history, and culture, and the committee in charge of it all is looking for some input.
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In celebration of Canada's 150th birthday, the community of Bonnyville is creating a masterpiece that reflects the area's roots, history, and culture, and the committee in charge of it all is looking for some input.

Over the next few weeks, residents are encouraged to submit their ideas for Bonnyville's Canada 150 mosaic.

“We are really looking for that community involvement, and also something that represents the ethnic diversity and growth of our community and Canada as a whole,” explained Andrea Yaremie, executive director for the Bonnyville Chamber of Commerce.

Ashley Gaulton, executive assistant at the Bonnyville Native Friendship Centre, agreed.

“The inspiration for the Canada 150 initiative is bringing Canadians together and being strong, proud and free… and part of that is working with the community. (The government) is very interested in community-driven projects and we love when we can work one-on-one with the community.”

Any idea is a good idea, Yaremie said, and even though an idea may not be chosen, it is taken into consideration during the deliberation phase.

A mosaic is a piece of artwork that uses smaller images to create a larger, more defined picture. The committee is looking for inspiration from the community and the people that make-up Bonnyville.

“What we are looking for are people's ideas – what Bonnyville and the Lakeland means to them, and what our community signifies for that bigger picture,” Yaremie said. “It's one of those things when you're part of something like this, you want as many ideas as possible.”

Spear heading the idea is a committee made up of various community groups, including the Town and MD of Bonnyville, the chamber of commerce, the Bonnyville Native Friendship Centre, the Aurora Visual Arts Association, and the Bonnyville Municipal Library, among others.

“We were actually approached by the Bonnyville Friendship Centre about doing a multicultural project to celebrate Canada's 150 anniversary. We thought it was a good idea,” said Town of Bonnyville assistant CAO Bill Rogers.

The committee opened up the brainstorming to the public at the beginning of the month, and is hoping for submissions by Feb. 28.

So far, they haven't received too much feedback, but what they have heard is people would like the piece to incorporate the dense landscape, the oilfield, and the ethnic and cultural diversity of the area.

“There needs to definitely be a landscape element to it. I think that can encompass a lot more. I know for myself, what really truly touches me for this area is the landscape,” Yaremie said about what she would like to see incorporated into the mosaic.

At this point, the details of the project such as size, cost and design, are still unclear, but they have picked a location: the Bonnyville Centennial Centre.

Sue Phillips, marketing manager of the Centennial Centre, said they're excited to be able to display such a monumental piece.

“It is the perfect location for it. Where people can come, enjoy it, participate in it, and take in all of the features of this project.”

Anyone interested in submitting their idea for the mosaic is encouraged to do so by emailing [email protected], or by calling one of the committee partners.

Rogers added, “The group feels that participation from multicultural groups and also community groups, people representing the heart and soul of the community of Bonnyville, is very important.”

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