A few highly visible beautification projects are taking shape around Niverville this summer: the Heritage Wall on Main Street, the Niverville Heritage Pavilion, a community mural at the post office, and more trees for residential streets. These projects are all being overseen by the Niverville Communities in Bloom (NCIB) committee.

The Heritage Wall

The largest project for NCIB for 2020 is the Heritage Wall on Main Street, in front of the Niverville Credit Union parking lot. The wooden fence currently located there will soon be replaced by 64 feet of metal panels measuring four-feet high and designed to illustrate the town’s heritage.

The wall art will tell the story as imagined by local resident Dustin Krahn, with input from the NCIB and the Heritage Wall committee, as well as Dr. Nigaan Sinclair, Professor of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba.

The wall will become a focal point along Main Street and is expected to attract visitors to the community.

Fundraising for this project is in its final stage. Since construction will not begin until the funds are secure, NCIB is doing a big push to see the final sum raised. Currently $20,000 of the $34,000 budget has been raised and NCIB is waiting to hear back from grant applications.

The hope is to get construction going before the end of July. The group is confident the project will begin this summer and be completed by September 30.

The Heritage Pavilion

Materials have been ordered for the Niverville Heritage Pavilion, and its build will begin in August and be complete by September 8. The pavilion will be constructed in the Niverville Community Gardens at the Heritage Centre and will incorporate wood planks from the town’s original grain elevator, destroyed by fire long ago.

Cornerstone Timberframes has planned a circular wall design to represent the appearance of the original grain elevator. The front view will be open to allow for special events to be held.

NCIB is already planning a community event to celebrate the completion of the pavilion, but it won’t be held until next summer.

The group hopes to host a Winnipeg Pops Orchestra outdoor concert on June 7, 2021. Sponsorship for this concert has already been pledged by Heritage Lane Builders.

All funds have been raised to build the pavilion, and once completed people can get involved by visiting and enjoying the facility safely outdoors as social distancing allows.

Community Mural

NCIB is also in the final stages of completing a community mural. The four local artists—Abigail Olfert, Elaine Krahn, Dustin Krahn, and CD Muckosky—have finished their collaborative design and are working toward transferring the design to the final medium.

Once complete, the mounted wooden mural will be positioned on the west side of the post office.

More Tree-Planting

The last beautification project will see an expansion of the community’s tree canopy. After the success of the Arbor Day tree-planting initiative on May 23, NCIB received a further donation from TC Energy to plan a second planting event for Niverville’s residential streets.

The town is again stepping up to commit support and resources. Coordinated by NCIB, TC Energy will donate a minimum of 60 trees for planting in the spring of 2021. Representatives for various streets in town are asked to contact NCIB to submit a request to receive the new trees.

Making a Difference through Volunteerism

Leading the way on all of these projects is Shirley Hoult of NCIB. Hoult has long been a fixture in Niverville’s volunteer community and has been integral in the development of many special projects around town. In outlining this summer’s projects, she has been demonstrating that her excitement won’t be deterred by the setbacks affecting so much of our society these days.

“It will be an amazing piece,” says Hoult, who is particularly excited about the Heritage Wall. “This will be a visual celebration of the community, bringing art and heritage to Main Street. And I might be allowed to paint one little part of [the community mural] just so I can tell my grandkids I painted part of the mural in Niverville.”

Hoult goes on to describe the climate of Niverville volunteers as full of life and joy.

“The fact that we’re getting so much support for these community projects, it’s something community members are having fun with and they like to see these projects happen despite all that is happening,” says Hoult. “To see that things are still happening on Main Street, in the community, the businesses and residents here are still pulling together and actively involved. I was overwhelmed by the support that’s been shown for all of these projects. I know it’s been an anxious and difficult time for people, but we need something to look forward to as well. We need to see good things happening—and good things are happening.”

She is also quick to thank the community and spread the credit wherever it is due, in particular to other dedicated volunteers, those who have donated to these causes, and a large grant from the Building Sustainable Communities Program.