The Municipality of Clarington has unveiled a temporary mural wall at the site of the March 6, fire that devastated part of downtown Bowmanville.
According to Clarington, the mural serves as a tribute to the community’s #BowmanvilleStrong spirit and features archival photographs celebrating the history of the site.
“The fire left a hole in the heart of downtown Bowmanville, so Team Clarington stepped up to design and build a temporary solution to beautify the streets while honouring the building’s history,” said Mayor Adrian Foster. “Our Invest Clarington team continues to work with the Bowmanville Business Improvement Area and Clarington Board of Trade to find opportunities to support the businesses impacted by the fire, and we encourage everyone to shop, dine and explore in downtown Bowmanville to support our awesome local community.”
The display includes images depicting the people and places that have shaped the area over the past century, along with a large #BowmanvilleStrong graphic recognizing the community support shown after the tragedy. The wall and mural were built, designed, and installed by municipal staff, with Ontario Power Generation covering the material costs.
The March fire claimed one life, displaced more than 30 residents, and forced 10 businesses to close. Clarington noted that in the aftermath, the community rallied with donations and fundraising efforts. The Clarington Board of Trade raised more than $85,000 from over 60 contributors to help affected businesses, while the Salvation Army collected over $70,000 in gift cards and essential goods for displaced residents, also providing personalized support to help them rebuild.
More information about the relief efforts is available at www.clarington.net/BowmanvilleFire.