Years ago I saw photos of waste dumpsters painted with cartoon characters. They were in a town in Italy and immediately I thought this would be a pretty neat thing to do in Fernie.

I mentioned it a few times to different people with no positive feedback until a couple of years ago when on occasion to speak with Courtney Baker and Gail Adams those two wonderful ladies agreed it was a great idea and offered to help.

Gail and Courtney brought Vanessa Croome and Julie Commette on board and it wasn’t long before plans were rolling along pretty smoothly.

We met several times in my office to cement ideas beginning with the decision as to what would be a good number of bins to start, arriving at ten that turned out to be a perfect number for the space at Station Square and 6th street.

We parceled out responsibilities, grant applications were taken on by Courtney, fundraising by Julie ( very successful body painting put on the Royal) checking out and photographing of ugly looking dumpsters by Gail, advertising by Vanessa, contacting Southeast and WM by myself.

A meeting was held with the group, the beautification committee and City staff with Hal Anderson and Neil Cook to see if they would agree to having the bins painted. Businesses’ that used the bins were also contacted for permission. This was just the beginning, more details followed but we were excited about this project so none of it seemed work.

It was very exciting when the artists renditions began to come and then adjudicated and chosen and then on the first Sunday of July the bins were painted.

Button making, hat decorating and painting on canvas was provided for kids so they could also produce works of art to bring home.

Hal Anderson of Southeast Disposal and Kevin French assisted by supplying new bins to be painted as well as moving the finished product to its new home.

The day proved magical, DJ music provided a great backdrop to the numerous visitors dropping by curious as to what was going on.

From that first beginning, much was learned so this year went relatively easy, these ladies know what to do, we met, planned and executed without problems.

Advertising, applications, fundraising, bin delivery, street closures, art supplies, artists meeting and painting went smoothly.

Sunday, July 5, was a fantastic day! Just when we thought we couldn’t have bins more beautiful than last year we were surprised. Each bin has a story and a unique slant to it. The colour and style of each one is amazing, pink and white rabbits, blue lines and curves, colorful butterflies, building skyline, birds, kids sitting on stools, a blue gold and green number, a feminine Buddha, and a community bin in a kaleidoscope of colour.

Last year I told many that I felt like I had died and gone to heaven when I saw the beautiful images on the dumpster bins, it was a dream that was made into reality by these four women and the artists and the volunteers who came to assist.

I enjoyed the day making buttons with the many children and adults who stopped by my table. I walked around and loved the new images that will soon add colour and vibrancy to an area where once stood a lowly dumpster instead now sits a beautiful piece of artwork.

Thank you Courtney, Gail, Vanessa, Julie, all the artists, Jay for being our DJ and everyone that volunteered, it was a good day, made even better by all of you. See you all next year.