Stories that Weave Us
Our mural for Kingsway transit centre, reflects on the histories of three Edmonton faith communities; Temple Beth Ora (Jewish), Shiloh Baptist Church (Christian) and Al Rashid Mosque (Muslim).
Each faith-based community has deep roots in the area and common legacies which point to values of justice, kindness and contributing to the repair of our world.
Partners from each tradition shared the many milestones and moments in our local history that helped shape their story of hope and home.
1938 Al Rashid Mosque was built. Edmonton’s first and Canada’s oldest Mosque.
1912 Beth Shalom Synagogue founded. Edmonton’s first synagogue.
1910 Shiloh Baptist Church founded. The oldest black Baptist church in Western Canada.
The mural concept incorporates the image of hands knitting together the stories; the yarn connects the communities and their stories to each other. The imagery includes five illuminated yarn balls containing multiple images that reflect the important moments in each community’s story. Presented in an imaginative way, each image is dispersed so that no one ball represents a specific community, but each is a mixture of abundant cultural experiences and aspirations. Themes emerged that connect these community stories together: Divine Light. Travelling great distances. Healing hands. Community care and belonging.
We wish to honour the community partners who shared their vibrant history with us and acknowledge the strength and long-standing contributions of Edmonton’s diverse faith communities.
Paint the Rails is a partnership between The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and ETS. Thank you to our funders AB culture, Edmonton Heritage Council, Edmonton Legacy Fund and Capital City Cleanup.
Artists: AJA Louden, Carla Rae Taylor, Dana Belcourt and Mathew Cardinal
