What stands nine feet tall, spans 85 feet and depicts what life in New Bothwell has looked like for the last 100 years? The answer: a giant mural that is being painted on the side of the New Bothwell Recreation Centre.

Edna Vogt is President of the New Bothwell Chamber of Commerce. She explains the idea for this mural came from Carol Tesluk, who is helping plan centennial celebrations in their community. Vogt says Tesluk was stoked about the idea and the more the rest of the committee thought about it, the better it sounded.

At first, the idea was to paint a mural that represented their sports heritage. But, when it was decided that the mural would coincide with the 100th birthday celebration for their community, they quickly changed plans.

The committee hired Mandy Van Leeuwen of Garson. A mural painter since 1998, her artwork is on display as part of community murals across our province. Van Leeuwen says because New Bothwell's centennial coincides with the opening of the first school in their community, she felt it important to make that the focal point.

"The school has brought a lot of development and growth to the town of New Bothwell," shares Van Leeuwen.

Other pieces of the mural showcase an old homestead, historic photographs, the store, cheese factory and of course sports.

"We did incorporate some of the sports into it too," says Vogt. "Because that's what the grounds is all about too."

Both Vogt and Van Leeuwen say the intent of the mural is to tell a story.

From start to finish, the project is expected to take five weeks to complete. Van Leeuwen says taking the drawing from paper to wall is not that difficult. But, she says the challenge lies in trying to include everything in order to tell a big story, using items that are larger than life.

According to the painter, the weather for the most part has cooperated. She says on really hot days she places an umbrella over her scaffolding. And, Van Leeuwen certainly has not been alone on site during the first four weeks. She says locals have stopped in to ask questions and to see how the mural is unfolding.

"Because I live so close here I come and bug her every once in awhile because I'm so curious what she's doing and how she's progressed," adds Vogt.

Some students from the local school have also dropped in to lend a helping hand.

"They came several times and came and helped paint," she says. "It was a lot of fun for them too."

Van Leeuwen says overall, the experience has been very positive. She says she is enjoying it, and the mural looks better each day. Van Leeuwen says she is also extremely grateful for the individual who donated his time to turn the bumpy stucco wall into a smooth concrete surface.

"It is giving us the best results for a mural possible," she says. "It's amazing and I just love the surface."

According to Vogt, the mural will be unveiled on June 22nd at 4 pm as part of the centennial celebration for New Bothwell.