Things could become a lot more colourful at the Bradford branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, thanks to a boost from the strategic projects advisory committee.
Based on the committee’s recommendation, council voted to tentatively approve branch 521’s application for $10,000 under the town’s Downtown Mural program —money to be used for a mural on the east side of the legion at 115 Back St. — during the Dec. 19 council meeting.
Tammy Paglia, president of the Bradford legion, previously explained that the mural would include action photos of Canadian military operations, “touching on the women of the armed forces, Black, Indigenous, and persons of colour, Afghanistan, peacekeeping missions, and much more.”
While the east facade does not qualify under the requirements of the town’s mural program because it is not facing a public road, Michael Kemp, market coordinator for the town’s office of economic development, explained the committee recognized the size of the parking lot and entrance makes most of the east side of the building easily viewable from Back Street.
“The group felt strongly that any funding should support the whole project and amended the motion to reflect both the east facade and project as a whole,” he said in reference to the mural on the south facade, which was unveiled ahead of Remembrance Day on Oct. 28, 2022, depicting a collage of images featuring Canadian soldiers and peacekeepers along with the legion crest and the words “Lest We Forget.”
The legion fundraised $12,840 for the south mural.
Paglia originally applied for funding for the murals in 2022, but a competing application from Jennings School of Karate had already been allocated all of the $10,000 available through what was at that time a pilot project.
Then in 2023, council formalized the program and upped the funding by $30,000, with each facade being eligible for $10,000. That allows Jennings School to qualify for as much as $20,000, as murals were unveiled on both sides of the building on Aug. 17, and leaves another $20,000 remaining in the pot.
As a result, the committee decided during their Nov. 27 meeting that the $10,000 for the legion should be applied to the future mural on the east facade.
Council approved the recommendation without discussion. However, it will also need to endorse the final mural design and cost, once the legion submits that documentation, in order for the funding to be released.
— With files from Rob Paul
