Veterans and legionnaires are saluted by a mural soldier when entering the Nanaimo legion branch 256. (Facebook/Humanity in Art)

By Spencer Sterritt

honouring heroes

First of many murals finished at Nanaimo Legion 256

Oct 4, 2020 | 7:40 AM

NANAIMO — Legionnaires and veterans are now greeted by a welcome site when arriving at their legion.

The first mural of a substantial project is now complete at the Royal Canadian Legion Mt. Benson Branch 256, on East Wellington Rd. near Bowen Rd.

It’s the first of 11 to be created by the artistic duo Humanity in Art.

Lauren Semple with the duo said the murals which will envelope the entire building were inspired by the legionnaires themselves.

“The members of Legion 256 put a lot of work into brainstorming their own ideas and concepts of what they wanted the murals to look like. They brought us a very clear vision of poppies and the memorial and Spitfires flying over the sunrise, so it’s really awesome to work with them and bring their vision to life.”

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The remaining murals will feature the four different flags Canadian soldiers have served under and many different branches of the military, all fitting under the Legion’s mandate of remembering Canadian soldiers and their sacrifice.

Semple said researching and designing the project is a “heavy” emotional experience.

“It’s not light subject matter, these aren’t light stories and memories.”

She said the research done to authentically capture the experience of a soldier filled in many gaps in knowledge left by school curriculums.

With winter approaching, much of the work on remaining murals will be pushed into 2021 and possibly 2022 given the scope of the project.

Four of the murals will be designed in partnership with local high school students.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt