CALGARY – It’s not every day an artist likes to see people casually setting foot on a piece she’s played a role in creating. But Calgarian Billy Rae Busby couldn’t be happier that’s happening to her.
It started when Busby painted a piece inspired by the Northern Lights. It caught the eye of Foreign Affairs officials with the federal government.
They were looking for designs to use for carpets as part of a major refurbishment of Canada House in London, which functions as our embassy in the U.K.
Busby’s piece was chosen, with a Toronto company then spending three months hand-tufting it into a carpet.
She was then delighted to turn on the news one day to see the Queen strolling along it during a visit to Canada House.
“I was so excited” Busby said “I kind of did a little jump up and down”.
That was followed just last week by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau standing on it to make a speech during his trip to London.
“It’s for sure such a huge honour,” said Busby. “It really makes me extremely proud as a Canadian”.
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She hasn’t yet had a chance to see the carpet up close.
Going to London is “on the bucket list, for sure,” Busby said. “We’ll hopefully get a chance to check it out one of these days”.