Rotary Hosting Volunteer Appreciation Launch for New Downtown Mural on September 17

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

The City of Williams Lake encourages community volunteers and volunteer organizations to place their permanent mark on a new mural nearing completion in downtown Williams Lake.

On Saturday, September 17 from 10 am until 3 pm, the Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Williams Lake are teaming up to host a volunteer appreciation event to put the finishing touches on the new Rotary Club volunteer recognition mural located on the cement wall in the parking lot beside Save-On-Foods.

During the event, both Rotary Clubs are asking any and all volunteers from the City and surrounding areas to stop by to place their handprints on the wall to form leaves on the mural’s tree branches, as well as to enjoy a barbecue and some refreshments.

Work on the volunteer appreciation mural – painted by local mural artist Dwayne Davis – began in July after receiving formal support from City of Williams Lake Council earlier that month. 

It was the first submission put forward by the Williams Lake Public Art Committee since its formation in the spring of 2022. Committee members include the City, the Downtown Williams Lake BIA, the Community Arts Council of Williams Lake, the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society, Williams Lake First Nation and the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association. 

The committee was formed through a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Downtown Williams Lake BIA to ensure a fair and impartial adjudication process to evaluate art proposals. The City and Downtown Williams Lake BIA have a three-year commitment to fund art projects to enhance the City’s public art collection and have allocated up to $10,000 annually.

“The City is pleased to be able to support and help establish a process for creating annual calls for public art from local artists,” said Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb, noting the City provides a $5,000 grant annually through the committee for an art project within City limits, with the Downtown Williams Lake BIA also providing an additional $5,000 each year.

“We have countless numbers of volunteers who help keep this community ticking and it would be great to see everyone out on September 17th for Rotary’s volunteer appreciation event.” 

New Accessible Equipment provided at Quesnel Recreation Centre

Joint Release of Cariboo Regional District/City of Quesnel:

The Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre is home to a new specialized piece of accessible workout equipment thanks to the generosity of a local service club and the conviction of a local accessibility champion.

The Rotary Club of Quesnel has donated $1,100 for the purchase and installation of a new five foot by seven foot cushioned stretching mat. The mat is approximately 18 inches off the ground and provides people in wheelchairs with a way to transfer straight across, stretch and limber up as opposed to getting on the floor. Seniors who aren’t able to get on the ground and back up, can also get on and off the raised mat easier. In addition, people with injuries to the hips, knees or back are now afforded a better opportunity to stretch.

Lynn Turner, a local resident in a wheelchair who has championed several accessibility improvements at the arts and recreation Centre, came up with the idea and worked to see it become a reality.

“I’m proud of the continued accessibility improvements that are being made at the Arts and Recreation Centre,” said Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom. “On behalf of Quesnel City Council, I thank the Rotary Club of Quesnel for their continued commitment to making our community a more accessible and liveable place. I also thank Lynn Turner who was a driving force behind the idea and helped make it a reality.”

“This new accessible equipment is another great example of how the private and public sectors are building communities together,” said CRD Vice‐Chair Ted Armstrong. “On behalf of the CRD, congratulations and thank‐you to the Rotary Club of Quesnel and staff for their on-going commitment to accessibility improvements and helping to ensure we continue to promote healthy active lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities.”

“The Rotary Club of Quesnel is pleased to contribute to the purchase of the stretching mat at the Arts and Recreation Centre,” said Rotary Club of Quesnel President Bev Haluschak. “Providing this equipment helps to remove some of the barriers to health and fitness that accessibility challenges present. We wish good health and fitness to all who use it.”