Group of seven outdoor gallery - The G8 Summit mural
In June of 2010 Canada played host to the G8 Summit where world leaders got together to discuss the problems and solutions that are facing our world. This is done every four years. This year the G8 Summit was held here in Muskoka at Huntsville's Deerhurst Resort. It was a time of great excitement. The town was filled with Police, Army and Security Forces to handle any protestor disturbances that might occur. Thankfully for us, we did not see any aggressive protesting in our streets. The property around Deerhurst Resort was a no go zone
and Hwy #60 had roadblocks controlling access to Deerhurst. There were other roads around Deerhurst that were cordoned off and Peninsula Lake was void of any boat traffic except for Police patrols. Amidst all this the world leaders had their meetings and the Town of Huntsville tried to go about business as usual. Some residents and cottagers' alike simply avoided town all together.
Little did anyone know about a special plan brought together by the Huntsville BIA, The Chamber of Commerce, The Town of Huntsville and the Summit Management Office. That plan was a goal to get the G8 World Leaders to participate in one of our community murals and add their brush strokes to our town. During March break in 2010 a community mural was created at Deerhurst Resort with the help of their guests and staff. Over 450 participants helped Art Director Gerry Lantaigne create a reproduction of Tom Thomson's painting The West Wind. The painting however was left unfinished across the lower skyline in hopes that the Leaders would finish the last brush strokes. The group of people behind the idea were not informed of a decision until the last day and even then knew the chances were slim that the leaders could break from their busy schedule to paint.
As luck would have it for Huntsville and Deerhurst, the G8 World Leaders did take the time to paint. They all mixed and added their own colours to the mural and actually completed the remaining parts of the skyline that were unpainted. It was a momentous occasion for the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery. The mural can be seen in its permanent home at the Canada Summit Centre in Huntsville, along with the brushes that each leader used. The G8 World Leaders Community Mural is located in the lobby of the Canada Summit Centre.
Little did anyone know about a special plan brought together by the Huntsville BIA, The Chamber of Commerce, The Town of Huntsville and the Summit Management Office. That plan was a goal to get the G8 World Leaders to participate in one of our community murals and add their brush strokes to our town. During March break in 2010 a community mural was created at Deerhurst Resort with the help of their guests and staff. Over 450 participants helped Art Director Gerry Lantaigne create a reproduction of Tom Thomson's painting The West Wind. The painting however was left unfinished across the lower skyline in hopes that the Leaders would finish the last brush strokes. The group of people behind the idea were not informed of a decision until the last day and even then knew the chances were slim that the leaders could break from their busy schedule to paint.
As luck would have it for Huntsville and Deerhurst, the G8 World Leaders did take the time to paint. They all mixed and added their own colours to the mural and actually completed the remaining parts of the skyline that were unpainted. It was a momentous occasion for the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery. The mural can be seen in its permanent home at the Canada Summit Centre in Huntsville, along with the brushes that each leader used. The G8 World Leaders Community Mural is located in the lobby of the Canada Summit Centre.
