A neighbourhood group dedicated to being a force for good in embellishing Saanich has met several unexpected hurdles along the way.
Since 2022, Gorge Tillicum Community Association vice-president Philip Lancaster and his team say they have pitched one mural project after another to the district, but have met “an incredible amount of resistance” from the municipality, leaving them perplexed.
It all started three years ago when the association targeted a beige washroom building at Meadow Park that they thought could benefit from a makeover.
Within a few weeks, Lancaster and his team found an artist, and had a design of dogs frolicking in a park. The project was fully funded by selling rights to dog owners to have their canine friends featured in the mural.
A collective work of art for the community, by the community, Lancaster thought.
“The community loved it, the association loved it, but the project was halted at the district level,” Lancaster said. “It went back and forth and back and forth because there were talks of rebuilding the bathroom.”
Eventually, the project fell into limbo.
“Both the community and the board members that were responsible for trying to move this thing through just got so fed up they walked away from it,” said Lancaster, who said the whole process took two-and-a-half years before being abandoned.
After shelving the Meadow Park project, the community association regrouped and shifted its focus when Saanich staff shared some promising news.
“We were told about a new grant program that was coming on and that should be ready for this year,” said Lancaster. “We got all excited about that.”
Eager to move forward, the association began brainstorming two new projects.
The first project involved painting another washroom, this time at Craigflower-Kosapsom Park, with plans to feature a piece of Indigenous art at a site of cultural significance for the local First Nation. The second mural was planned for a large blank wall on the side of Garcha Bros Meat Shop and Poultry at Burnside and Albion roads.
Both projects had selected artists and specific designs. For the second project, the building owner was ready to contribute nearly $3,000 to help make it happen.
Yet, the two projects stalled again, explained Lancaster.
“[We] got told that we had to wait till the guidelines and the policy and everything were written.”
On May 27, Lancaster met with Saanich News several days after Saanich council unanimously adopted the Community Mural Program, noting the association’s projects are still awaiting the green light.
“The guidelines aren't ready and the application form isn't ready,” said Lancaster. “With this glacial rate of progress, we're gonna miss the season again.
“The design depends on the artist, and if the artist is not available next year because they're occupied, [we’re] gonna start over again.”
In a written response to Saanich News, the district stated that staff have been actively developing the mural grant program requirements, information, and application package.
“While the new program has been under development and awaiting council approval, staff have continued supporting organizations interested in creating murals in Saanich,” reads their statement. “They have offered assistance and guidance as needed and kept groups informed about upcoming program updates and opportunities.”
“Torn between being furious and giving up,” Lancaster and his association are perplexed at what to do next.
“We've got a government that seems to have been focused on policy development instead of getting an actual product done.”
