Artists paint murals in Edmonton LRT stations to promote diversity

Local artists are hopeful that the small brushstrokes they're making on the walls of an Edmonton LRTstationwill have a big impact.

Carla Rae Taylor is paintinga mural in the concourse of Churchill Station that honoursmissing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

"Basically, we are taking the stories of diverse cultural communities and bringing them to the forefront of people's thoughts," said Taylor on Sunday, as she began drafting silhouettes on the walls.

The mural is part of a project called Paint the Rails, which delves into important moments in the city's history.

"It really is a thoroughfare," Taylor said of the station. "Hopefully they'll see them every day and get the messages over time."

• Paintings will bring history of Edmonton's diverse communities to LRT stations

A partnership between the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights andEdmonton Transit Service, Paint the Rails is one of the city's Canada 150 legacy projects.

In addition to Churchill, artists will paint muralsinfive other stations: University, Corona,Kingsway, Coliseum andClareview.

ArtistAJALoudenwill begin work at University Station in the new year.

Timely topic

Starting with a tribute to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is significant andtimely for manyreasons, said Dana Belcourt, Taylor's apprentice.

While there is a national inquiry underway, Edmonton Transit Service has launched a campaign called Respect All.

"Getting everyone home safely is a really really important message," Belcourtsaid."In this world, we need to stick together rather than pulling apart."

She hopes the project promotes greater understanding and acceptance.

"Lots of people aren't really as familiar with Edmonton's history," Belcourt said. "They walk the streets every day, buteveryonehas a story to tell and this is kind of a way of telling those stories,"

@roberta__bell

roberta.bell@cbc.ca