Pincourt seeks projects to improve quality of life
An eye-catching new mural was installed in Pincourt last week, beautifying a long stretch of fence that has long been a magnet for graffiti. The project was one of three implemented this year thanks to the town’s new social development fund, which supplies grants to support community projects led by citizens, artists and non-profits. Painted on panels attached to two fences along Cardinal-Léger Blvd., the mural, dubbed Parviflora, features larger-than-life flowers and birds painted in vivid shades of fuchsia, lime green, hot pink, electric blue and orange. The 150-foot long mural was created by artist Madeleine Turgeon with technical assistance from Myriam Gaudry, and help from students in grades 3 to 6 at nearby Edgewater Elementary School and their art teacher, Athanasia Antonopoulos. Turgeon said the colourful mural was designed to discourage graffiti by making it harder to see, while also beautifying the busy road. “These two fences used to have graffiti all the time. It just came back over and over,” said Turgeon. “I approached the city to do a mural, because usually graffiti artists don’t paint over artwork out of respect for other artists.” According to the Celia Corriveau, who heads Pincourt’s social and cultural development division, the fund helps the town encourage local people to come forward with fresh thinking to improve quality of life that wouldn’t necessarily occur to city staff. “There are some solutions only an artist would imagine,” said Corriveau. “We’re looking for new ideas we don’t have in the office, different ways of doing things.” Two other projects were funded by Pincourt’s social development fund in 2017. One grant enabled the creation of a new toddler screening program at the Prenatal and Young Family Centre to assess children’s development and refer parents to resources for support if required. Another, organized by members of Les Skieurs de l’Île, launched a new program to teach Pincourt schoolchildren how to cross-country ski. Corriveau said the town was very happy with the quality of projects completed in its first year, and intends to keep the program going so long as it remains a success. A second call for projects was announced on Nov. 23, inviting local citizens, artists and non-profit organizations to submit their ideas and ask for a share of the $10,000 earmarked for the fund in 2018. Corriveau said applicants are free to ask for as little or as much as they need for their project. There are no minimum or maximum number of projects for the fund, said Corriveau, only an aim to support as many quality initiatives as possible within the budget. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31, 2018. Projects will be evaluated by committee. For more information or to apply for a grant from the fund, visit the town’s website at villepincourt.qc.ca.