Image

Then and Now murals grace downtown Forest

May 25, 2023

There will be more art than just films in Forest this weekend.

The town is hosting the Lambton Film and Food Festival Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Starting Friday morning, the downtown will be filled with music and art with musical street performers and school children livening up the street with chalk art.

And as they work and play, they’ll be able to see some of the 12 new murals in the downtown.

Catherine Minielly and Lynn VanHaaren of the Forest BIA spearheaded the project. Four artists, Rick Jones, Brian Normandeau , Bill Foster and Red George, were commissioned to create the murals with the theme of Then and Now.

VanHaaren doesn’t have one favourite mural saying each is interesting and she sees something new each time she looks at them.

George, who created two murals including Soul Mates which shows two Blue Herons in the sunset, is excited to be part of the project in the community.

VanHaaren says the BIA received grants to cover the $48,000 cost of the project. It also received funding from Lambton’s Creative County grants to commission two more murals.

The mural project may spread; VanHaaren says some business owners outside the BIA boundaries hope to commission murals to be placed on buildings in the commercial area.

If you would like to get a look at the murals, Minniely will be offering guided tours of the works of art starting at 11 am until 2 pm Friday starting at the Kineto Theater.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Forest Kiwanis hope a mandarin, apple and cucumber can raise some cash for Kineto

February 7, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent “Why would somebody give 6.2 million for a banana on the wall?” That’s what Forest’s Jose Van Haastert thought after seeing what a crypto billionaire paid for a piece of conceptual art with a banana on the wall. Her family talked about the massive price tag for the art over Christmas. But the idea got Van Haastert,

Read More

Image
News

New scholarship program at Great Lakes created in honour of late Sarnia judge

February 7, 2025

Students in St. Clair Township and Sarnia will be able to apply for a new scholarship program, named in honour of an Ontario Court Justice from Sarnia. The Sarnia Community Foundation says the family of the late Anne McFadyen has set up an annual scholarship program, similar to LCCVI’s Nicol Scholarships. It will honour five graduating students from Great Lakes

Read More

Front Page

Driver taken to hospital after Inwood accident

February 7, 2025

An Alvinston woman had to be taken to hospital after an accident near Inwood Monday. Lambton OPP have yet to release any details about the crash Monday morning which occurred during foggy conditions. Witnesses say two vehicles, a van and large pickup truck, collided at the corner of Inwood and Shiloh Line Monday morning. The van was T-boned. Brooke-Alvinston Fire

Read More

Image
Sports

LCCVI on top of girls high school hockey standings

February 7, 2025

LCCVI moved into a first place tie with Chatham-Kent Secondary School in girls’ high school hockey this week with a 2-1 win over the Golden Hawks in Chatham. The Lancers are 2-0-2 in the south division this season. The regular season wraps up late next week. Playoff dates have yet to be announced.

Read More