Greater Terrace Beautification Society

Terrace Standard Jennifer Lang

Try to remember what Terrace looked like just a few years ago, before the southeast corner of the Sande Overpass or the vacant lot at Greig and Ottawa were landscaped. Terrace, it must be said, definitely looked a little rough around the edges.

Think back and you’ll realize Terrace has never looked so good. Consider the countless cement planters that line downtown streets with colourful displays throughout the spring and summer, or the memorial park at the Highway 16/37 four-way stop.

Since 1986, the Greater Terrace Beautification Society has spruced up the town, bringing it in line with the natural beauty that surrounds it. It all started with the annual Garbathon clean-up, a joint project with McDonald’s Restaurant, and the installation of more garbage cans around town after the city received litter complaints. At first, there were only a handful of members.Together they formed a nucleus that’s remained in place up to the present.

City council supports the society in two ways.One, it gives the society an annual grant for the Provincial Networking Group’s garbage cleanup program in the downtown area. Two, the city assists with projects such as planters and maintenance, and also the irrigation system at the Sande Overpass area. A huge list of people and businesses has volunteered time, materials, labour and equipment to the projects

Along the way the society has racked up an impressive list of beautification projects:

  • The Rick King Memorial Tree and garden on arena hill.
  • Offered flower tubs sponsored by the city and local businesses.
  • Planted spruce trees on Greig and Ottawa Streets.
  • Offered memorial trees on Park Avenue near the Medical Center and on Kalum Street.
  • Landscaped the Keith Avenue and Sande Overpass area.Provided a rest area garden on the top of Lanfear hill.
  • Helped relocate an old rail car to the start of the Grand Trunk Pathway.
  • Arranged for trees planted behind Safeway.
  • Organized the cleanup of the Via Rail station in time for visiting cruise ship passengers.
  • Got local students to paint murals downtown.
  • Offered memorial benches that are placed around town commemorating Terrace residents.
  • Coordinated the fire hydrant painting project.
  • Planted tulips on South Kalum Street.
  • Continued to build on the beautification project at Greig Avenue and Ottawa Street.
  • Began and continue to work on the four-way stop landscaping project for the Laura and Renaud memorial.
  • Participated in the development of the Grand Trunk Pathway, goal society members merely dreamt of completing fifteen years ago.


 

 

 

 

Allison, Myrna, Irene, and Chris

 

Claude and Jeannie

 

Judy, Howard, and Allison

 

 


 

 

Murals Commissioned by GTBS

1.The wall of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in the Gobinder Mall depicts Horse logging in 1925 and Truck Logging in 1995.Heather Webb and Arlene Doell painted these.Randy Tait did the Raven Crest with the caption “Raven Brings Sunlight to the World”.On either side the symbol of God as expressed by the Sikhs is shown.The City of Terrace Crest is below the Raven.

2.The mountain scene on the Bargain Shop back wall (see below) was painted by Allison Chase and Natalie Dickson, students sponsored by Manpower.Jose Brand was the artist who designed the mural.

3.“Postcard to the Elders” on the west side of the Bear Country Inn was painted by “Elder” Sam Lockerby and coordinator Melodie Johnson, Gerald Sampson, Richard Johnson and Olive Lockerby.The mural depicts the life of the Kitsumkalum people with longhouses, a smokehouse, canoe and totem poles.

4.The Fly Fisherman on the Wall of the Video Stop was painted by Jim Reid who later went on to study at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver. 

Back to Stories Index
Home

        

                            Jose Brand's mountain scene mural.                                             Fisherman
                                                                                                                              James Reid