The owners of the former Royal Canadian Legion building at 268 High Street West plan to refurbish the mural on the structure’s east side by adding colour to enhance its vibrancy.
China-based Jin Cheng International Real Estate Ltd. took ownership of the 94-year-old building in May 2020 after Branch No. 59 — which is now a tenant — decided to sell its home rather than renovate it. The real estate company then began to renovate the building, which included installing new windows and making interior repairs.
It has now turned its attention to the “Lest We Forget” mural, which community artist Dale Cline painted in 1992 on the east side of the building. The multi-panel mural focuses on the First World War, the Second World War and Korean War, and the Cold War and the legion’s community activites.
A representative of the company spoke to the City of Moose Jaw’s murals advisory committee recently about enhancing the painting. The committee chose to make no decisions until all its voting members were present.
“It’s going to be great … . So it’s kind of exciting that these newcomers to Moose Jaw are taking over that building (and) they’re really taking pride in the artwork that was there, and they’re going to just improve it,” Coun. Heather Eby, the representative for city council, told the Express.
Eby praised the company for its plan to enhance the mural and pay for the rehabilitation, which she thought was honourable since it did not need to do that after purchasing the building.
Legion president Roy LaBuick looked forward to seeing the mural touched up and enhanced.
“In general, I got no issues with that. They’re going to update it and add a few things to it, (so) I’m all for it,” he said. “I think it’s absolutely wonderful.”
Murals are important of Moose Jaw, whether on that building or other structures throughout the community, LaBuick continued. They attract many tourists, while they enhance the aesthetic look of the city.
“It has stood the test of time (during the last 29 years) … ,” he added. “It has been a really nice addition to the building, that’s for sure.”
The real estate business plans to use Xinzheng Liu to update the mural since Xinzheng has more than 30 years of experience in the art world and graduated from the well-known Chinese arts college Tsinghua University Academy of Arts and Design, a letter to the committee explained. Instead of painting over the mural, the picture will be re-created on panel boards, which will then be attached to the wall.
“It is guaranteed that the theme, overall structure and tone of the original painting, and the historical figures, events and buildings of the original painting will not be changed,” the letter continued.
The goals of rehabilitating the mural will include increasing the details and proportions of the memorial cross and First World War-focused Vimy Ridge monument, enhance the war scene from the Second World War to increase its storytelling, and make the UN peacekeeping vehicle and torch more realistic.
Furthermore, the text of two poems in the mural — “In Flanders Fields” by Lt.-Col. John McCrae and “In Flanders Now” by poet Edna Jacques — will be restored for better readability, while portraits of the poets will be added. Xinzheng will also add scenes to the third panel from the Gulf War and Afghanistan to represent the modern military.
Jin Cheng International Real Estate expects the project to cost $10,000 and will pay for the restoration work, although it did ask the murals committee to consider supporting its request for funding through the Downtown Façade Improvement Grant program.
Xinzheng will likely start working when the weather improves.
