Chemainus Festival Of Murals Society — Attraction in North Cowichan

I found myself in Chemainus recently visiting a friend who recently moved there and discovered the town was known for its murals. I understand the challenge of moving from a one industry (lumber) town to one that generates revenue via tourism and I can see that the murals helped Chemainus succeed in this goal.

While the skill and dedication required to create and maintain the murals and art is impressive, I found the subject matter to gloss over and simplify the history of this place and excessively celebrate the men who created the very industry from which the town is now trying to transition.

Yes, there are a few murals and statues that represent the Indigenous peoples of this place but with no context of how they lived on this land for so long before the brief period of over extraction that the lumber industry represents.

I found the art piece at "Heritage Square" to be especially disturbing as I thought this was the opportunity to reckon with the impact of resource extraction as the two figures sat surrounded by tree stumps, but instead the plaque recounted a story about hunting snipes.

Overall while in Chemainus I felt like I was stepping back in time, to a place that still relies on an oversimplified retelling of history that works to perpetrate the myth of Canada as a peaceful nation of White settlers, along with a couple token Chinese folks, who are doing their darnedest to bring civilization and Christianity to the savages and save them...

Love this idea. Happy to support the initiative by buying the $5 map. The physical map is easier to use than the online map, because it doesn't annoyingly reset your location and zoom out each time you click a link. Making it hard to locate the next stop. That said, the online site has much more thorough descriptions for the majority of the murals. Using the two tools together was ideal. Hubby guided with the physical map. I read descriptions. On the downside. We walked the whole thing, no problem, except it was a heatwave. We took in a two hour musical at the theatre just to cool off and reset. Also, a few of the murals are in disrepair or badly faded. Please buy the map to help them fund restorations! The walk will take you by many wonderful shops, but beware, most of them close at 4pm, so plan accordingly. Lastly the murals are not in any historical order. I would have valued a map that walked us through the murals in chronological order (to be clear, in the order of historical events that occurred, not the order of when murals were painted). Overall, we enjoyed getting to know Chemainus better through this creative art and...

Chemainus truly lives up to its name as the Town of Murals. Walking around felt like stepping into an open-air museum, where history and art blend beautifully on every wall. The murals aren’t just paintings—they’re stories. They showcase Indigenous heritage, pioneer life, the logging industry, and the everyday people who built this community.

What makes it special is how the whole town embraces the art. Every corner has something unique to see, and each mural is detailed and vibrant, making you pause to take it all in. It’s both educational and inspiring—perfect for anyone who loves history, culture, or just stunning visuals.

If you’re traveling through Vancouver Island, Chemainus is a must-stop. Whether you capture a few murals or all 50+, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for how art can preserve and...