Photo provided by Sadie Parr / WeHowl
Murals planned for Vancouver and Nelson will showcase the importance of wolves to environmental health while challenging viewers to consider the impacts of the government’s ongoing aerial kill program.
WeHowl, a non-profit focused on protecting wolves, has partnered with Drift Mural Co. to develop the first mural as part of the Vancouver Mural Festival, taking place August 8 to 11.
“Wolves play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and the opportunity to preserve predator-prey systems across British Columbia is declining,” says Sadie Parr, Founder of WeHowl and coordinator of the mural project. “The artwork will also portray the beauty of wolves and provoke reflection on their intrinsic value and sentient nature.”
A coalition of NGOs including The Fur-Bearers, foundations, and businesses are financing the project, which will be located at 316 W 5th Avenue (The Beaumont Studios) in Vancouver.
“More than 2,000 wolves have been killed since the Government of British Columbia began its winter kill program, ostensibly to help caribou, while industry continues to exploit resources in caribou habitat,” says Parr. “Meanwhile, Chronic Wasting Disease was confirmed in British Columbia, an illness that wolves provide the first line of defense against by maintaining healthy ungulate populations. The status quo for wolves in British Columbia cannot go on – it will only lead to negative environmental, economic, and cultural impacts for us all.”
A second wolf mural will be painted in Nelson later this month. Both serve as a medium to invoke heightened awareness, education, and inspiration to engage in a future that prioritizes coexistence and health landscapes for all species across British Columbia.
“At Drift, we believe in the transformative power of public art. We use our murals as a way to connect to the communities they serve, encouraging viewers to reflect on their relationship and responsibility towards each other and all species in our shared world,” says Anaϊs Labrèque of Drift Mural Co.
Several NGOs included in financially supporting this project include Wolf Awareness, The Fur-Bearers, Humane Society International- Canada, Zoocheck, and Valhalla Wilderness Society.
Anyone interested in the project, the situation facing wolves in British Columbia, and how they can help is encouraged to visit WeHowl.ca.
