Jacquie Surges, Centretown News
Mural painted on Gilmour St. apartment building by tenants and youth artistsCity officials and community members were on hand Monday to unveil a mural that planners hope will deter graffiti in Centretown.
The mural is located on the side of 379 Gilmour Street, an apartment building operated by Options Bytown, a charity that provides affordable housing to low-income residents and those transitioning out of homelessness. The wall it was painted on has been a common site for graffiti in the past.
“We wanted to do something to combat that and contribute to the beauty of the urban area that we’re in,” says Lorraine Bentley, executive director of Options Bytown.
She explains that her organization encourages tenants to actively take part in shaping their communities – this mural was a way to do just that.
The project was done in collaboration with Operation Come Home, an organization that helps homeless or at-risk youth. Youth artists worked with tenants of the building to create a design that would be pleasing for the entire community.
“Everybody’s proud of it,” says Bentley. “Our tenants are involved and have felt now that they’ve given back to the community that has helped them.”
Crime Prevention Ottawa provided the funding for the mural. City councillor Shad Qadri, who chairs Crime Prevention Ottawa, was in attendance at the unveiling Monday with Somerset Ward councillor Catherine McKenney.