This may come as news to those of us in Chemainus who don’t often venture out after dark, but some night owls are seeing the downtown in a new light.
More than one new lighting display is beautifying the Willow Street core.
In Waterwheel Park, Maynard Johnny Jr.’s sculpture, Shq’apthut (Gathering Place), has been lit up and features various colours. The 3.5 metre by 5.9 metre sculpture serves as a gateway through Waterwheel Park to the old town section of Chemainus.
The addition of lighting enhances the beauty of the work that was managed and funded by the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society, with financial, technical, and logistical support from the Municipality of North Cowichan, Island Coastal Economic Trust, Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, Penelakut Tribe, Rotary Club of Chemainus, BC Marble Products Ltd., and Cowichan Valley Regional District.
Several years ago, the Municipality of North Cowichan installed lights in the trees at Waterwheel Park, giving the site a beautiful look after dark.
Further down Willow Street, St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church is now lit up at night thanks to the generosity of one of the parishioners.
Julie Barton, came up with the concept and money to install the spotlights in honour of former Rev. Michael Wimmer’s 18 years of service to the church and the Chemainus community. Rev. Wimmer recently retired.
Double L Electric marked where the wires were to go and parishioners Lexy Maartman-Jones and Paul Warkentin dug the trenches by hand. Double L came back and wired it up. Paul back filled the trenches. A photo cell switch was installed so there is no maintenance.
(Church photos by Paul Warkentin)