The Murals of Chermainus

Chermainus is a small seaside town just off the highway up the coast of Vancouver Island and is fun to drive or walk through. It was originally a lumber town but when that industry became less important it turned to art to save the community from economic collapse.

There are now over 40 giant murals around the town which largely celebrate their pioneer past as well as cute shops to attract tourists. There are also some other arty touches- statues, totem poles, a labyrinth, a cute park with a water wheel, and more. Here are rather a lot of pictures.

This chainsaw sculpture shows the roots of the town, which was the logging industry. Yes, the trees were that bog. And some still are. 

This mural of First Nations people and a totem pole along with the sculpture of the man in the pond greet you when you enter Chermainus 

Franklin with a mural of early canoes and settlement

An original resident (First Nation) views a sailing boat approaching his shore.

A horse and buggy ride for those who don't want to walk around town to look at the murals and take photos, like these ladies.

There are yelllow footprints directing you from one mural to the next. They have yellow footprints in Duncan too to direct you to see all the totem poles. 

I like this idea. I am ready to design a mural of three stages of my life. If I can limit my life to only three stages.

Chinese workers on the railroad

Moving lumber by steam engine train

Three statues of First Nations people in front of a mural of their lands

The original telephone office

This is a telephone company repair truck. I can only assume the truck driver prefers driving around with these animals rather than the resident bears, wolves, and seals. 

An old store

I assume his wife was holding the camera

As elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest they floated the logs on the water to move them from place to place. 

The rough, tough early loggers

The post office

This waterwheel, garden, and fountain is at the park

Some bear sculptures eating ice cream outside an ice cream shop. A lot more chainsaw sculptures coming up in my next post. 

Last spring when we were in The Netherlands someone called us "a cute old couple". Uh, maybe. But to me THIS is what a cute old couple looks like.