This weekend, residents of Saanich’s Falaise community are volunteering their time to add a little bit of beauty to their neighbourhood.
Through the organization of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network and the Falaise Community Association, the neighbourhood will be repainting and expanding their beloved road mural on Falaise Crescent, which is next to Falaise Park, just off Royal Oak Drive.
This project was initially launched as a pilot project to add a little pop of colour to the neighbourhood.
Now, it has become a semi-annual tradition to gather together as a community, repaint the mural and add a little bit of new flourish each year.
According to Teale Phelps Bondaroff, member of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network and Saanich Councillor, painting road murals not only beautifies streets and connects neighbours, but research has also found that they encourage drivers to drive slower.
The original road mural was designed by local artist Desiree Shelley,who worked with the community, and took inspiration from the yellow montane violets that were discovered in Falaise Park.
The road mural was originally painted in August 2022. In August 2023, the road mural was repainted and purple camas flowers were added.
For this year’s repaint, red-flowering currants will reportedly be added.
Neighbours of the Falaise community will be painting from 10 a.m. onwards, and the team anticipates that the painting will be complete around 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 17th.
