A mural honouring the community motto “Canada’s Most Patriotic Village,” is taking shape here.
The motto and mural recognize the village’s contributions in both World Wars which were noted in a front page Toronto Star article in 1942 headlined “Arthur village gives sons and money to aid the war.”
The article noted one in every seven Arthur residents fought in World War II. At that time 126 residents of a population of 890 had enlisted in the war effort. It was the highest ratio in comparison to communities of a similar size across Canada. By the end of the war 338 residents had enlisted and 25 were killed in action.
During World War I, Arthur was the first village to reach its quota in selling war bonds. The quota was sold out in minutes and the community also led the communities in Wellington County for every other war and victory bond campaign and surpassed all objectives set. In total the community raised $250,000, which was an amount equal to 64 per cent of the assessed value of the village’s taxable properties.
The community was recognized as “Canada’s Most Patriotic Village” in the Ontario legislature in 2002.
Mount Forest-based artist Cliff Smith was commissioned in May by the village’s mural committee to paint the three-panel mural on the north side of the Sussmans building downtown. The cost of the mural is set at about $8,000 including a $2,500 grant received by the committee.
Smith said the panel closest to Highway 6 will represent the First World War, with a British flag, Billy Bishop war plane and poppies. The middle panel depicts local veteran John Walsh saluting a painted version of the war memorial in Ottawa with the Canadian flag in the background. And the final panel will feature the mine-sweeping ship Walsh served on during World War II, as well as a female officer, tank, anti-aircraft gun and a Spitfire war plane.
The mural has attracted residents, among them Jim Andrews, who has stopped frequently to view the progress.
“It’s looking better every day,” Andrews said.
Smith said he enjoys working with large paintings and did murals back when he attended the Ontario Arts College in the 1970s. In fact, a mural he painted in Brampton during that period turned out to be the first colour photo used in the local Newspaper. The mural was of super heroes like Wonder Woman, Spiderman and Thor, the God of Thunder.
Acrylic paint is the paint of choice, because it blends in well on the concrete wall and will endure the weather. When the murals are completed Smith will add two coats of varnish to seal them.
“It will last as long as the wall,” he predicted.
Smith expects to complete the mural by the end of this month.
