Sask. city unveils colourful mural for Canada's 150th

The city of Warman, Sask., collaborated to create a mural for Canada's 150th anniversary of confederation. It was one of 150 communities that were part of the mosaic mural project.

Warman, Sask., was part of a nation-wide effort for next year's Canada Day

CBC News Posted: Jul 02, 2016 4:27 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 2, 2016

The mural is rich with both national and local symbolism. (Submitted by Josh Welz)

Canada just celebrated its 149thanniversary of confederation,butthe city of Warman, Sask., is already prepared for next year.

On Friday the cityunveiled a colourful mural of a train car that wascreated for the upcoming celebration.

Warman isone of 150 Canadian communities that have created a mural. Images of the individual paintingswill be joined together to create one massivepicture.

"It's so unique," said Josh Welz, an economic development officer with the City of Warman. He helped organize the project.

The project brought generations together. Community members of all ages came together in Warman, Sask., for the project that will be part of Canada's 150th birthday celebration. (Submitted by Josh Welz)

From kids to grandparents, more than 300 people helped create hundreds of tiles that were assembled into the final piece.

Welz said the project was fun, but added it also fostered a sense of community.

"It really shows the community coming together to do something that is culturally significant," he said, noting their contributions will be part of a lasting legacy.

Who do you see? For the project, 150 communities across Canada will contribute their murals for the country's 150th birthday celebration. (Submitted by Josh Welz)

There are images within images and they range from depictions of John Lennon to landscapes to letters.

Welz's favourite image isn't a sunset or Gainer the Gopher, rather it's a painting of a bagel.

"It's amazing the detail that's gone into it," he said.

Participants only received loose guidance from facilitators, Welz said.

While seemingly random, each little square came together to be part of a purposeful larger image. (Submitted by Josh Welz)

They were told to paint certain shapes or stick with certain colours for continuity purposes.

Even though people had the freedom topaint what they pleased, the result was a cohesive painting.

"It all kind of just pulls together. It's really amazing, actually," Welz said.

For Welz, theneatest part of the project was the local meaning behind the train car mural.

The city's train car will join other cars crafted by the 149 other communities involved in the Mosaic project.

This train car created, by the people of Warman, Sask., will join other train cars from across the country. (Submitted by Josh Welz)

For the community, the symbolism of a train runs deep.

"Warman was originally named Diamond when they became a village," Welz said, adding itwas called Diamond because of the train tracks that crisscrossed through the village.

The tracksformed the shape of a diamond.

"It's significant on so many levels," he said.

with files from CBC Radio's Saskatchewan Weekend

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