People in one Calgary neighbourhood are in for a surprise the next time they toss a snack wrapper in a public garbage can — they’ll be getting a fun history lesson while they’re at it.
Calgary artist Nicole Wolf has just finished a project in the Ogden area, painting images and words onto 12 garbage cans around the neighbourhood.
The cans now feature illustrated stories about the area’s rich past.
Community leaders recruited Wolf for the project, with the City of Calgary providing funding for it.
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“The stories were graciously given to me by residents of Ogden,” Wolf said. “People were really excited to share what they remember from a long time ago.”
Neighbourhood residents are enjoying the chance to learn more about the area.
“It’s a heck of a good idea!” Eric Meinig said. “Because at least people know what came before.”
One can features illustrations of a large metal figure that stood for years in Ogden, a nod to the community’s long association alongside a railyard.
Wolf transformed another can to showcase the Ogden Weed Gang.
“This was a group of boys that were hired year after year by a farmer, and he’d have them pull weeds,” Wolf said. “He would have the boys line up like soldiers and be like, ‘Boys, today you’re battling the enemy weed — not a weed can be left standing!'”
The colourful cans are now a highlight for many people in the area.
“It’s so much nicer in the neighbourhood when you see something you can look at and find some cool details you didn’t know about, rather than just having a brown box,” Anet Skocilasova said.
“It’s just fun!”
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