Winter BAM!

This past March, Honest Ed's - a famous Toronto discount department store, owned by the infamous Ed Mirvish - advertised a sale of all the store's iconic hand-painted signs.  The line-up snaked around the block.

Since opening in 1948, all of signage inside Honest Ed's is hand-painted by two full-time artists (the store is closing permanently in December 2016).  The signs - brightly painted and riddled with puns - are considered iconic design pieces by many. Here are just a few:

Though hand lettering is rarely seen in stores nowadays, there is still hope for the wonderful art of window displays - something we can soon enjoy as many retailers prepare their windows for the upcoming holiday season.  New York is famous for its many incredible window displays as you can see here: http://www.refinery29.com/best-nyc-holiday-window-displays#slide

In fact, the art of the window display will soon be more prominent right here in Fort McMurray. Until November 21, businesses have the opportunity to apply to get a Winter Wonderland-themed window painting of their own.  Based on a first-come, first-served basis, the windows will be painted by local residents and paid for Communities in Bloom, as part of the BAM! program.  All windows will be painted by December 3 - just in time for the Santa Claus parade!

Launched in 2014, BAM! was created by Wood Buffalo Communities in Bloom to encourage storefront beautification.  Visit rmwb.ca/bam for details and application forms!

Graffiti Abatement Mural Program

You might recognize some of these murals from around Fort McMurray, but did you know that they serve more than just one purpose?

The murals were commissioned as part of the Graffiti Abatement Mural Program.  The basis of the project is simple: when a mural goes onto a wall, it is less likely that the wall will be tagged or vandalized with graffiti.  When large spaces become less vulnerable to the threat of graffiti,  it means that property owners and municipalities spend less on graffiti removal and remediation of that space.  

Launched in 2012, the project also provides an opportunity to explore urban art in a legal, respectful way.

Each spring, a Call to Artist is issued nationally.  While the call is open to any artist living in Canada, extra effort is put forth to encourage submissions from local candidates.  

Once all the submissions have been gathered, a local selection panel (comprised of community volunteers including representation from the arts community) reviews the proposed designs and picks the artist and proposal that they feel will be the best fit for our region.  Murals are usually completed by the end of September.

For more information about the Graffiti Abatement Mural Program, please visit: rmwb.ca/mural.  If you have any suggestions for future mural locations, or would like to discuss the program in detail,  please contact beautification@rmwb.ca. 

Have You Seen the New Bus Shelters?

Now that summer is here, the days are longer and the flowers are in bloom. Fort McMurray feels bright, colourful and beautiful!

 One area in particular that is being given a new look for summer are our local bus shelters!

Over the next few weeks, twenty bus shelters around town will be wrapped with four different graphic designs that showcase the natural beauty and wildlife in our region. Keep your eye open for these  lovely "wrapped" shelters!

This innovative beautification initiative was the brainchild of the Communities in Bloom volunteer committee with assistance from coordinators from the Municipal Community Strategies branch. 

Pick and Click Photo Contest 2013

Don’t forget to “Click” when you pick! 

Participate in Community clean up and submit your fun-filled photos for great prizes, including a HD Kobo E-Reader Tickets to Arlene Dickinson and a cash prize!

Submit photos for one or more of the following categories:
Best Team Photo
Best Clean Up Action Shot
Best Anti Litter Message (Voice, Photo, Video)

Submit photos at www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/cleanup by May 31, 2013

Wanted: Graffiti Wipe Out Event - Volunteers needed!

On Saturday, September 22nd, 2012, the RMWB Beautification team will be holding a Graffiti Wipe Out event.

What: Paint over an area which is highly tagged with graffiti
Where: Underneath the bridge across the highway from Grayling Terrace
When: Saturday, September 22nd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

***Volunteers will also be invited to a lunch, provided by us, after the event.***

Mature youth and children are welcome to join; however, anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

If you have any questions or would like to register for this event, please contact us at 780-799-7479!

2012 Mayor's Business Block Challenge

Is your business block littered with paper wrappers, cups and cigarette butts?  Twenty minutes of attention with the right tools and a few coworkers can make your store front and business block litter free!  So are you ready for a few garbage bags, a little elbow grease and some friendly competition with the businesses in the next block?

The 2012 Mayor’s Business Block Challenge takes place on May 2 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Join us for the official kick off from Mayor Melissa Blake followed by a twenty minute block clean up on the main terrace of the Jubilee Building.

Register for the Business Block Challenge at www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/volunteer or call 780-788-4324 for more information.

Community Clean Up 2012

Community Clean Up

Spring Clean Up – April 18 to May 13

Take pride, Wood Buffalo! The community and the environment needs your help to maintain the beauty of our region. Citizens, businesses, property owners and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo are encouraged to work together to promote a litter-free environment. Volunteer to clean up a park, greenspace, block, trail or roadway. Yellow Pitch-In bags, gloves and litter picking sticks are supplied.

Click Here to register for Community Clean Up, or call 780.788.1489 for more information.

Pick and Click Photo Contest
Register with Spring Community Clean Up and enter your fun-filled photos in the 3rd annual Pick and Click Photo Contest. Winning submissions will win a prize package valued at $400. 

Adopt-A-Trail / Adopt-A-Roadway Program

Adopt a section of trail or greenspace along municipal roadways. A honorarium of $100/km(Trail) or $250/km(Roadway) will be issued after the minimum requirements of FOUR litter picking sessions from May to September have been completed and reported.

Bags, gloves and picker sticks are supplied. Safety vests are available upon request.

Click Here to register your group for the Adopt-A-Trail / Adopt-A-Roadway program, or call 780.788.1489 for more information.

Highway Clean Up Event

Get Involved with the Highway 69/63 Clean Up event on May 11 and 12 and help keep our region beautiful. Clean up supplies, a safety presentation, and shuttle service to and from the designation locations will be provided. Volunteer as a group or individual; participants must be 18 years or older.

Click Here to register for the Highway Clean Up event, or call 780.799.8643 for more information.

Mayor's Business Block Challenge  

The 5th Annual Block Challenge program encourages neighbouring businesses to "Pitch In" and take on a 20-minute spring cleaning challenge around their properties and throughout their neighbourhoods.

Take the challenge on May 2!

Click here to register your business and receive a free clean up kit. Please register by April 27, 2012.

Tips For Conducting a Safe Clean Up

• Visit your site and assess it for possible hazards. What can you do to minimize any dangers?
• Wear gloves during your clean up. Free bags, gloves and picker sticks are provided by calling 780.788.1489.
• Volunteers are discouraged from cleaning along all highways.
• Do not pick up any dangerous items including broken glass and discarded needles.
• Be very careful around parked cars and driveways.
• Call 780.788.1489 to arrange for the pick up of bags.
• Wash hands thoroughly when completed.