All hands on deck as Sumner’s mural takes shape

Piper Gordon is looking forward to seeing the finished mural she helped paint in Sumner.

Her mom, Lana Ogilvy, took Piper, 8, and her brother Archie Gordon, 9, to a community painting day for the Sumner Coast Guard Station mural.

The Mount Pleasant mum said it was a great way to teach children about the Coast Guard station.

“It was a pretty good way to explain to the kids what a lifeboat does.”

Ogilvy has fond memories of painting the mural while she was at Redcliffe School.

This prompted her to involve her children in creating a Coast Guard mural.

“When it came up, I thought it might be something pretty funny.”

Piper and Archie helped paint the sea, but said their favorite part of the mural was the boat.

At least 15 children and parents took part in the event, the youngest of whom was only three years old.

Organizer and artist Emily Quain said she was pleased with the turnout.

“It became a really good family event and one of the goals of the mural was to bring the community together.

“(Attendees) said they had a fantastic day with their families… and they just can’t wait to see how it ends.”

The painting took an hour, and Quain said they were able to do more than expected.

Members of the Sumner Coast Guard painted the Blue Arrow rescue boat Friday as part of a team-building exercise, she said.

For Quain, the highlight of the day was seeing the community come together to create a public piece of art for Sumner.

“This is such a wonderful thing to do.

“(The station) is also the end of the Coastal Path… If you take a long walk, it’s a nice little place to put a mural that people can look at and enjoy.

“This is a real achievement for the community and one they will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

• We invite everyone to attend the official opening of the mural at the station on November 16 at 15:00.