Artist busy preparing to unveil new mural at splashpad

Diverse Message: ‘Just like fish in the sea, we are all different in our own unique way’

By Casandra Turnbull

A budding Paris artist was awarded the opportunity to paint a new mural at the Lion’s Park Splashpad.

Twenty-year-old Karlie McCullough, who’s completing a four year Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Western University, has been busy prepping and painting the new mural this past week, which will be completed by May 31st , just on time for the splashpad’s seasonal opening on

June 1st .

McCullough was one of many artists and creative residents who submitted their ideas for the mural when the County’s Recreation Team put a call out at the end of April. The entire project is sponsored by River Realty

As the winner, she received a $500 gift card to buy paint supplies for the 30’ long by 4.3’ high wall as well as a $500 honorarium payment upon completion. Her winning submission comes with a very inspiring message, which is equally creative for its purpose but holds a true underlining message about this growing community.

The words read, ‘just like fish in the sea, we are all different in our own unique way.’

“I have always loved painting large-scaled paintings and have recently been loving the techniques of painting fish after a project I completed in my second year of university,” McCullough explains the inspiration behind her mural.

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