Community Spirit and Creativity Earn Prince of Wales New Mural from Artist Jason Wilkins

By Scott Arnold

What started as a mural contest turned into something much bigger at Prince of Wales Public School, a celebration of creativity, teamwork and the pride that comes from building something together.

artist jason wilkins speaks to students at prince of wales

Students and staff packed into the school gymnasium Wednesday as artist Jason Wilkins revealed that Prince of Wales had officially been chosen to receive a new community mural through the 1st Annual Big Dreams Mural Project.

poster for jason wilkins’ big dreams mural project

The announcement was met with cheers from students, many of whom had played a role in helping the over 100-year-old school earn the project in the first place.

During the assembly, Wilkins presented a slideshow showing what the finished mural will look like once installed inside the school. Students also celebrated the moment with a pizza party afterward, turning the afternoon into something that felt more like a school-wide celebration than a typical assembly.

But according to Wilkins, the mural itself is only part of the story.

He told students the goal of the project was to encourage more kids to get involved in the arts while also showing the importance of being connected within their school community, working together and building relationships with one another.

That message clearly resonated at Prince of Wales.

Vice Principal Brad Conlin said he first came across the contest on social media and immediately saw it as an opportunity to showcase the school’s long history and strong sense of community. From there, a mural committee made up of students and staff came together to help bring the idea to life.

The effort, collaboration and school spirit behind the submission ultimately helped Prince of Wales stand out.

When completed, the eight-foot by eight-foot mural will be installed at the top of a busy staircase between the school’s second and third floors, a space thousands of students will walk past over the years.

And while the mural will eventually become part of the building itself, the process of earning it has already become part of the school’s story.


Scott Arnold
is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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