‘Never explain, never retract, never apologize.
Just get the thing done and let them howl.’
-Nellie McClung, 1915
For Immediate Release – Monday July 25th, 2016
Winnipeg, MB – On Tuesday July 26th, at 10:30 AM the West End’s BIZ will be unveiling the latest addition to our outdoor gallery, “A Woman’s Parliament”, created for us by local artist Mandy Van Leeuwen. The mural is located at 560 Sargent Avenue, at the corner of Sargent and Furby. The event prelude (10:00 am) features entertainment from the Manitoba Living History Society and Journeys Quartet. Speakers at the event include the Lieutenant Governor Her Honour, the Honourable Janice Filmon, the Minister for Sport, Culture & Heritage, Honourable Rochelle Squires, and His Worship Mayor Brian Bowman.
Media are invited to attend.
The location has great visibility for the finished art piece and will become part of the regular West End BIZ tour route. Property owner Nighat Tariq, who donated the wall space, is proud to host the mural and states, “It is a beautiful representation of the journey for women’s rights which is exactly why I wanted to sponsor it.”
Across the street at X-Cues Café, owner Sal Infantino who has watched the work from the start adds, “It’s been incredible to see the artist build the story with each day’s painting. This piece is very special and will really add to the new vibrancy that is on Sargent Avenue”.
West End BIZ Executive Director, Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner adds, “There is a great story to be told with every mural. Building our mural gallery helps us draw people in to sharing Winnipeg’s history and the amazing contributions of its peoples”.
Lila Goodspeed, Chair of the Nellie McClung Foundation says “How wonderful to have this mural illustrating the story of Nellie McClung and so many others who worked tirelessly to gain the rights for women to vote. It truly will keep her legacy alive”!
The West End BIZ Mural Program is award-winning and internationally recognized, having won the prestigious International Downtown Association’s “Award of Distinction.” WHERE Magazine also named the West End BIZ Mural Tours in 2009 as one of Canada’s Top Ten Attractions. Over 90 murals have been created in the West End neighbourhoods by the West End BIZ.
This is the first of three new murals to be introduced this summer by various artists for the West End BIZ.
The West End BIZ extends our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and partners in this project.
The Winnipeg Foundation, Take Pride Winnipeg, The Nellie McClung Foundation, the Province of Manitoba Department of Sport, Culture & Heritage, Councillor Cindy Gilroy-City of Winnipeg, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Building & Decorating, Crestview Pharmacy, North American Lumber.
Thank you! Your support helped us share an important piece of history!
The West End Business Improvement Zone (West End BIZ) is a non-profit organization committed to working with area businesses and stakeholders to enhance and promote Winnipeg’s West End.
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For further information or to arrange interviews or photo opportunities, please call Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner, Executive Director of the West End BIZ at (204) 954-7900 or mobile (204) 290-9378