On Monday, June 19, 2023, Mayor Dennis Rogers and members of Kingsville Town Council joined the Communities in Bloom Committee, mural artist Sarah M. Robbins, and grade eight students from St. John de Brebeuf, for the official unveiling of the new Kingsville Mural at Lakeside Park.
The mural is an initiative of the Communities in Bloom (CIB) Committee and features bright post-card style artwork that symbolizes various aspects of Kingsville’s unique identity. There are nods to the Town’s agricultural roots, its rich history with Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and Kingsville’s recent Bee Friendly City status.
“There are a lot of great things about our community that we’re super proud of, and this encompasses all of it,’” said Mayor Dennis Rogers at the unveiling ceremony.
The mural reveal marked the start of pollinator week, an annual event celebrated in the third week of June to recognize and acknowledge the importance of pollinators and their role in our food supply and ecosystems.
“The Communities in Bloom Committee will continue to advocate on behalf of pollinators and spread the word on pollinator protection,” said CIB Committee Member, Karin Sonnenberg.
The mural’s artist, Sarah M. Robbins, said she wanted to show all the amazing aspects of Kingsville and the things you can do here, “but also the importance of the pollinators and our fauna and flora because it’s our ecosystem that helps make Kingsville as beautiful as it really is.”
“You guys are going to be in charge,” Mayor Rogers told the students. “All of us old folks will disappear at some point, and it will be up to you to protect our earth and protect our community. We need your help.”
The committee initially began fundraising for the project by hosting community dances before securing a Federal Development Grant through Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation. It is located on the splash pad side of the Lakeside Park splash pad changerooms, 315 Queen Street.