Touring Town: West End BIZ Mural Walking Tour - Insurance Tips

Article by Laura McKay & Roshanie Balkaran (The Minions), on behalf of Heritage Winnipeg Corp.
To follow up on this or any other articles on the blog, contact Heritage Winnipeg's Executive Director.
  

WHO: Summer Students Laura McKay and Roshanie Balkaran, Tour Guide Sasha
WHAT: West End BIZ Mural Walking Tour
WHEN: Friday, August 8, 2014
WHERE: Meeting place in front of the Safeway at 600 Sargent Avenue
COST: Adults $5.00 | Kids 12 & under $2.00
CONTACT: Call the West End BIZ office at 204.954.7900


 
Quick Facts:

• There are over 70 murals in the West End, including 4 new ones being added this summer
• The tour features 10-15 murals (depending on time constraints), focusing on the newer and particularly significant pieces
• Murals contribute to a community by attracting visitors to the area, reducing the incidence of graffiti, representing the cultural diversity, educating the public on the subject matter, and contributing to a collective sense of pride in the place we live.

Location: Prairie Stained Glass at 585 Sargent Avenue 
The grasshopper's eyes in this pillar are made of the same material used for space exploration!

"League of Nations" by Charlie Johnston (2009) 
Location: Northwest corner of Sargent Avenue & McMicken Street, 551 Sargent Avenue
The mural is a tribute to the building owner's love of soccer, as well as the area's multiculturalism.

Work in Progress by Charlie Johnston (2014)
Location: Sargent Avenue & Sherbrook Street
This new 3D mural is a work in progress but should be completed in a few weeks!

"A Taste of Italy" by Tom Andrich (2002)
Location: Southwest corner of Sargent Avenue & McMicken Street, 550 Sargent Avenue
Features the ruins of a Roman villa, gondolas, and representations of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the works of Michelangelo.

"Costa Rica" by Mandy van Leeuwen and Jennifer Johnson (2003)
Location: Southeast corner Sargent Avenue & McMicken Street, 546 Sargent Avenue
Fittingly on the side of a travel agency, this mural features a Costa Rican volcano that is active every 3-4 minutes!

"Memories of Sargent Avenue" by Bryn Vargas (2013)
Location: North side between Young Street & Langside Street, 533 Sargent Avenue
This mural was painted as part of last year's Mural Mentorship program.

"West End International Village" by Roberta Hansen (2009)
Location: Northeast corner Sargent & Spence, 495 Sargent Avenue
The flags throughout the mural are all connected by a red maple leaf representing Canada. 

 The International Village and Saigon Park
Location: 485 Ellice Avenue
The park was once known as Fighting Irish Park, among other names. Now it serves as part of the International Village, welcoming new immigrants to Winnipeg.

"Memories of Ellice Avenue" by Sara Wilde
Location: Northwest corner of Ellice Avenue & Langside Street, 555 Ellice Avenue
To be unveiled on August 14, 2014 at 10am by the West End BIZ! 
The public is welcome to attend.

 "Bill Norrie" by Michel Saint Hilaire and Mandy van Leeuwen (2013)
Location: Southwest corner Ellice Avenue & Langside Street, 538 Ellice Avenue
 This piece won the award last year for best mural and is a depiction of Bill Norrie, the second longest running mayor in Winnipeg.

"Remembering the Roller Rink" by Annie Bergen (2011)
Location: Northeast corner Portage Avenue & Langside Street, 581 Portage Avenue
Painted on the side of the West End BIZ's main office building, this tribute fittingly includes a glass mosaic disco ball!

Continuing the Roller Rink tribute across the street, the University of Winnipeg Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex displays the floor boards from the rink, refurbished and used as part of the wall decor.

Fun Fact: These trees are real. When the Richardson College was built, the trees were worked around instead of removed. Natural night from the skylights allows them to continue their natural lifespan!

"Power Play" by Michel Saint Hilaire & Mandy van Leeuwen (2011)
Location: Northwest corner of Portage Avenue & Furby Street, 619 Portage Avenue
This mural celebrates hockey in the City and throughout the Province as well as Winnipeg's support of the return of the NHL with the Jets.

"Millennium Multicultural" by Mike Valcourt (2000)
Location: North side Ellice Avenue and McMicken Street
This is the only drive-through mural in Winnipeg, possibly even in Canada. This photo shows the Poland side of the mural which also includes representations of the Philippines, India, and the Ukraine.

"Iceland" by Dave Carty (1999)
Location: Northeast corner Ellice Avenue & Furby Street, 563 Ellice Avenue
A tribute to the local Icelandic population, this mural includes Viking explorers, fisherman, and Icelandic ponies. 

In this close up of the far right of the mural we see a tribute to Charlie Thorson, a famous cartoon designer who was also a member of Winnipeg's Icelandic community. He was known for creating the faces of such iconic characters as Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny, and Snow White, who was based off a waitress from a local restaurant.

"Adam Beach on Location" by Charlie Johnston (2003)
Location: Southwest corner Ellice Avenue & Sherbrook Street
Adam Beach is a famous TV and movie star who grew up in Winnipeg. The bear in the mural represents his Aboriginal identity - he is a member of the Bear Clan and has the Aboriginal name Leading Bear Man. 

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony by Tom Andrich (2003)
Location: Southeast corner Ellice Avenue & Maryland Street, 616 Ellice Avenue
Fun fact: In the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, they add not only sugar, but salt as well 
(so trying this the next time we go to Tim's!).

"Harry Lehotsky" by Michel Saint Hilaire & Mandy van Leeuwen (2006)
Location: West side between Sargent Avenue & Ellice Avenue, 
Here you can see Reverend Harry Lehotsky who was dedicated to improving the lives of the disadvantaged people in the community. 

Margret Benedictsson's house at 530 Maryland Street
Margret Benedictsson (1866-1956) was an Icelandic journalist and human rights activist. She lectured on women's rights and founded the Icelandic Women's Suffrage Society in Winnipeg.

"Zoohky" by Jill Sellers (2004)

Location: Northwest corner Sargent Avenue & McGee Street

This was the last mural we stopped by on the tour. The man here was a well known member of the community who used to fix old bikes, radios, toys etc., and then give them to the people who needed them. He made a poem "The Blue Danube" which we stood and read in front of the mural in his honour.

The murals in the West End are a fabulous tribute to the history and culture of the area. The West End BIZ mural tour was a great opportunity to learn more about the City of Winnipeg through these beautiful pieces of art. Our tour guide, Sasha, was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the area - she encourages her visitors to ask questions and takes the time to answer them thoroughly. This was definitely one of the more unique tours we've done!

Links:
CBC News Article - West End BIZ mural tours reflect neighbourhood's history
The Murals of Winnipeg Website
Mural Walking Tour Description from Doors Open Winnipeg
West End BIZ Website
West End BIZ on Twitter
West End BIZ on Facebook

Which Winnipeg mural is your favourite? 

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