The stairs leading to the majestic community centre in Saint-Anicet have been painted with a unique dual-perspective mural that incorporates two complementary and magnificent works by street artist Joë Tbo. The vibrant mural, which features a kayaker descending the stairs from one angle, and Canada geese in flight from another, was completed on May 28 and 29.
“The two images are very representative of our municipality,” says Fannie Fournier, who runs the school and municipal library, as well as activities for Saint-Anicet. Kayaking is a popular sport along the shores and clearwater bays of Lake Saint-François, and geese are a familiar sight in the municipality. “The artist did an excellent job in capturing the essence of the community in her creation from the information we provided,” says Fournier.
The community centre was selected as the site for the mural as the building already attracts a lot of attention. “The idea was to add value to this monument,” explains Fournier. The project was launched in 2020 but was put on hold when it was discovered the stairs were in poor condition and needed repairs first. “The project allowed us to kill two birds with one stone,” says Fournier. “We repaired the steps to make them safe for the population, and we decorated them to represent the municipality in an artistic way.”
Fournier says she hopes the citizens of Saint-Anicet will recognize themselves in the artwork and find joy and pride in seeing it. “I also hope it will attract those from outside the municipality to visit us,” Fournier admits, noting that tourism plays an essential role in the municipality’s economy.