A new mural going ahead in the Kingsway Imperial Neighbourhood will be part of the world's largest mural project, according to a city report.
At Monday night's meeting, Burnaby council approved $3,500 from its mural grant program to go towards the $9,300 cost of creating one at 7037 Antrim Ave.
The mural's theme is humpback whales and it will be the first in a series, part of the Connected Pacific project, which sees interrelated murals in three Pacific coastal cities to promote conservation.
"On completion, the project will have murals in three cities, in three countries, (Canada, U.S.A. and Australia) essentially becoming the world's largest mural project," the report states.
The mural will be completed by Todd Polich, founder of Earth Foundation Conservation Society, who has also done others in the neighbourhood - including one in the indoor playground space at the new Edmonds Community Centre.
The project is an effort to combat graffiti in the community, according to the report.
Diane Gillis, who sits on the Mayor's Task Force on Graffiti and is the president of the Kingsway Imperial Neighbourhood Association, said the mural will be a wonderful addition to the community.
"We're delighted," she told the Burnaby NOW. "We do have a fair bit of difficulty with graffiti in some areas and murals definitely offset that in a terrific, positive way."
Gillis said her neighbourhood association signs off on murals in the southwest portion of the city and they've had repeated issues with graffiti.
"We've done a number of things over the years," she said. "We've painted that building, talked to the owner of the building. Murals offset the graffiti and also enhance the area."
Gillis also said murals act as a deterrent to graffiti.
"It's a long, ongoing process," she added. "We'd love it if more businesses would like to step forward to further enhance that area as (murals do) add value."
John Kalbfleisch, of Alpha Technologies, said they've had many graffiti problems over the years on their wall facing Antrim Avenue.
"We were getting a lot of graffiti on the side of our wall," he said. "It's been a challenge being that close to the SkyTrain and it's an accessible wall."
Kalbfleisch said the project will include help from disadvantaged youth who will receive training and improve their art skills.
"I think it's a good project and I think it's going to help a lot of at-risk youth," he said. "It'll be a beautiful painting when it's done."
For more information on the neighbourhood association, visit www.kinaburna by.ca.
To see more of Polich's work, go to www.earth foundation.ca.
