Best Winter Murals in Canada

Too often, locals explore their own towns and provinces with blinders on. This is even more evident in the winter when people tend to stay indoors. Why is that when there is a whole new world of sights and sounds with our winters. Just dress warm and plan accordingly. Simple.

Travelers, on the other hand, tend to explore “eyes wide open” in every season. Travelers can find the beauty in the simplest of things. You have seen them do it in your town. They are always taking photos of everything. Sometimes you catch yourself shaking your head in awe and confusion. But why? It makes total sense if you think of your trips. Travelers have a talent of appreciating everything new that they can see, smell, taste and touch. You do too. You just forgot when you got back home.

Many travelers attend the big attractions… how could you not… advertising about them is everywhere. But what often makes the best memories are the photos taken standing with something like a mural, statue, monument, sign, building or anything that requires little staging and a lot of spontaneity.

What is not advertised on billboards, tourism magazines are the free activities one should seek out for the best photos. Self guided mural tours are one of those free activities. Unfortunately, these photo hot spots do not pay big membership fees, buy advertising and contribute to community tax bases therefore receive very little press. Hence, we always park and walk downtowns of Canada and find our sights ourselves.

During our winter travels across the country researching tourism we often poked our heads around where, maybe, they did not belong. We walked back alleys, down side streets, over roof tops and under ground through tunnels looking for tourism. Anything goes right?

One clear message we have observed, over and over again, is that Canada has a ton of winter murals. Hundreds, if not thousands.

Many are telling the story of Canada right in front of our eyes. I bet you could make a fantastic picture book using murals from Canada. It is all there – seasons, adventures, history, tradition and culture. Hmmm?

Now that I look at our inventory – we have 432 photographs of murals in Canada on file. Wow… that many eh? Hmm… very cool. Wheels are turning. But first we must finish our expansion of our ehCanadaTravel.com website before writing books. Ok… not true. If the right offer came along we would consider it for sure.

Anywho… here are the best winter murals we could find while exploring Canada. We also included one mural sent into us. We asked for contributions and received some. We liked this one. Are we missing yours?

Cover Photo : “Prairie Winds” located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

This winter mural tells us that the prairie winds can be like music to our ears. And they are. The sounds they make can be very hypnotic. Add in the Northern Lights and you have a concert of the ages. However, anyone who has lived through a winter in the Prairies of Canada knows how cold the wind can get. It may be sunny out, blue skies and beautiful scenery but once outdoors on some days the wind can bite. Not all days, just some days.

“Icebergs and Fishing” located in Twillingate, Newfoundland, Ontario

“Icebergs and Fishing” located in Twillingate, Newfoundland –  New World Island.

Look closely, the boat and fisherman are part of the winter mural but not part of the painting. It is a 3D mural located on the side of the Prime Berth Fishing Heritage Centre.  No 3D glasses required. Sometimes, it is the uniqueness, not the contents of art which catches ones eye. We know because we have some very unique art in public places around the country. Luckily most of the art is amazing! In this case it is very unique as well. Many people were taking photos with the boat. Plus we were just coming back after an iceberg high from viewing our very first real iceberg ever ! Icebergs are more like spring sightings, but the feeling is winter in this photo.

“Stream in the Wood ” by A.Y. Jackson (Group of Seven), Huntsville, Ontario

“Stream in the Wood ” by A.Y. Jackson (Group of Seven) located in Huntsville, Ontario – Muskoka Country

Hard to pass on a “Group of Seven” winter mural when putting any type of list together. In 1920, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael, F.H. Varley and Frank Johnston formed the “Group of Seven”. The group of artists – inspired by the Canadian landscape – created the first major Canadian national art movement. Their works help put Canada on the global map. Today, there are over 40+ murals throughout the community of Huntsville, Ontario to view. This is one of them.

“Spirit of the Past ” painted by Kelley Morrell, Kenora, Ontario, Canada

“Spirit of the Past ” painted by Kelley Morrell, 1997 located in Kenora, Ontario, Canada

Often winter murals like to talk history, This is no different. This mural of canoeing, dog sledding, hunting and living in winter camps was once common life in Canada during the early years. Not so much anymore.

Now winter camps, dog sledding, hunting and canoeing are adventures in Canada people pay to participate. How times have changed. This winter mural was our favourite in Kenora.

“Howling Wolves” by Josie Horvath, Gimli, Manitoba, Canada

“Howling Wolves” by Josie Horvath located in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada

The “Wall of Murals” along the waterfront of Lake Winnipeg in the resort village of Gimli, Manitoba has many murals of various quality to view. Who knew? Not sure if it was the murals or the amazing scenery which left a positive impression on us about Gimli. The sandy beach village was one of those communities which we knew very little about and, once we stayed a while, it super exceeded our expectations. We visited in the summer. But they too enjoy a snow filled winter. The”Howling Wolves” of Gimli winter mural made an impression on us while walking the “Wall of Murals”.

Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Contributors Choice: Sent in by Michelle Eady ‏@Mish1100 via Twitter! Follow her blog Living on Life

This mural is located in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. The only mural, we think, so far in Canada we have not photographed. It was created by 3 artists – Patrick Thompson, Jonathan Cruz and Alexa Hatanaka. Although it may not be a winter mural per say… it is snow and ice season in the northern regions of Canada many months of the year. There is snow on the ground so in essence, it is a winter mural. And a beauty one too.

What winter mural have we missed?

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ehCanadaTravel.com (eh Canada Travel & Adventure) is the largest booking, planning and researching tourism and travel website for Western and Northern Canada currently expanding into Eastern and Atlantic Canada. The EH Team Brothers (Co Founders) also author the eh Canada Travel Blog which was recently awarded “A Top Canadian Blogger” by FlightNetwork.com.

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