The outside of the Rotary Centre for the Arts has received an incredible revamp. From December 2023 to May 2024, a team of youth were hard at work creating a large-scale mural that was installed on the RCA Outdoor Art Wall on June 7. After receiving generous funding from the Tony Quo Vadis Foundation, the RCA’s Exhibition Coordinator & Theatre Programming Director, Andrew Stauffer, and Educational Program Coordinator, Kaylyn Hardstaff, began to brainstorm how to get local youth involved in the project, what the theme of the mural would be, and which artist should lead this project. After searching through local mural artists, the RCA found Sheldon Pierre Louis.  

Sheldon is a multi-disciplinary Syilx Artist whose ancestral roots have influenced his works in painting, drawing, carving, and sculpting. Sheldon shares his knowledge that was passed down to him over the years to lift up the young aspiring artists he works with. Growing up surrounded by artists, Sheldon had always been supported and encouraged, and wants to provide that same encouragement to local youth.  

Sheldon and the RCA team connected with teachers from three School District #23 schools: Kelowna Secondary School, Okanagan Mission Secondary, and Ecole George Elliot Secondary. These teachers found students who were passionate about delving into the theme of environment and interested in learning more about the process of mural painting.  

The mural designing process began with multiple meetings with the group of students. Sheldon and Kaylyn presented the themes of environment and nature to the students and held open discussions on what these themes meant for each of them. The students decided on seven major factors they wanted the viewer to experience when viewing the mural; the four unique seasons in the Okanagan, native plants that are prevalent and recognizable in those seasons, the artistic and cultural environment within Kelowna’s Cultural District, the location of the building and the diverse groups of people that interact with the space, the impact of climate change, particularly with the impact of the fire season, and how arts and culture can bring people together when facing difficult environmental circumstances.  

Photos by Chantel Thederahn 

“The process was quite organic,” says Sheldon. “We opened the floor up and allowed the youth to speak to whatever the theme said to them. In a lot of those instances, we would have to guide the conversation, but with this group of youth, it was quick and engaging and they had a lot of very amazing creative ideas.” 

Sheldon used these ideas to create four unique designs that span over 8 large panels, totalling 36’ long and 8’ tall. Each student assisted Sheldon and Kaylyn in and painting each panel of the mural.

Students at work. 

Mural Drafts by Sheldon 

Sheldon was impressed by how quickly and professionally the students came up with ideas. 

“The level of conceptualizing that they brought to the project really made the design process a lot easier to narrow down. There were a lot of commonalities as everyone went around the table, and we all shared and spoke and broadened our ideas. Coming to the final concept was quite an easy process. 

Coming into this space and it being a creative art space outside of the classroom made it easier to settle in and just be free with the process.” 

Kaylyn is excited to have been able to bring an opportunity like this to local youth in our community.  

“This project was such a great way to give youth insight into what a career in the arts can entail.” Says Kaylyn. “It gave them a chance to see how something seemingly large and daunting can be broken down into something approachable and how a theme that is broad and far reaching can fit a groups unique set of circumstances.”  

Kaylyn and SD #23 student at the Mural Unveiling. 

“The youth mural is a testament to the vibrant spirit of our community, and we are incredibly proud to showcase the talent and collaboration that went into this project says Colleen Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the RCA. “This unveiling was a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the artistic expressions that make the Okanagan so unique.”  

Stop by the RCA and view this mural for yourself! Thank you to the Tony Quo Vadis Foundation for their donation which made this mural possible, Kaylyn Hardstaff, DL Ranney for help with install, and Sheldon Louis for his valuable mentorship of the students.  

We would like to highlight and thank the following students:
Claudia Clark, Anna Couper, Naomi Mor, Corina Vasile, Nicole Thomson (Kelowna Secondary School), Stevie Jones, Ayla Bauman, Jack Borgh (Okanagan Mission Secondary School), Brooke Gagnon, and Landon Jones (Ecole George Elliot Secondary School)

We are also very grateful for the teachers involved from each school:
Timothy Mayer from Kelowna Secondary School, Kelly Hanson from Okanagan Mission Secondary School, and Marnie Birkeland from Ecole George Elliot Secondary School.

Kelowna and the RCA are situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the Syilx/Okanagan people who have resided here since time immemorial. 

Cover photo by Chantel Thederahn.