Fort Nelson evacuees painting uplifting mural in Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Fort Nelson evacuees have begun painting a mural of Muncho Lake on the side of a shipping container in the North Peace Arena parking lot.

Francine Freeman, an art teacher at Chalo School in Fort Nelson and evacuee staying in Fort St. John, has been working on the mural with her students since May 15th. 

“[We] just wanted to do something to take [peoples’] minds off everything,” Freeman said. 

The majority of the work is being done by Freeman and her students, but residents of Fort St. John and evacuees have also been stopping by throughout the two days to contribute to the mural.

Freeman contacted the Fort St. John Arts Council about providing supplies for the project, and the council was able to provide and deliver everything needed within two days of her request.

Despite some challenges with the weather, including slight rain on May 15th and a cold and cloudy day on May 16th, Freeman and her students are hard at work on the mural with great success. 

“It’s been drying almost too fast for us to work with it,” Freeman said. 

Freeman has been posting progress updates on the mural on her Facebook page and extends a standing invitation to anyone, resident or evacuee, who is interested in joining in the painting process. 

Freeman and her students will work on the mural from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. from May 17th to  May 20th and will continue to post updates online until the mural is completed.