Aylmer art students recognized by community for creating their own cultural mosaic

A group of high school students in a rural southwestern Ontario town have created an art installation meant to instill Canadian pride and display the diversity the country is known for.

More than 30 students at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer have already received recognition from the local community for their work to create a mural featuring paintings of students from all walks of life, a tangible example of the Canadian idea of a cultural mosaic.

The mural, dubbed "On Guard for Thee," is made up of Canada flag-inspired self-portraits painted on panels measuring just over 100 cm by 70 cm. When put together, the portraits form a large mural that measures roughly five metres by six metres and uses colour to resemble the Canadian flag.

"We have a student from Africa, a boy who is a refugee from Ukraine, kids from Vietnam. This is just in our small classroom. They're all friends, they all worked together to accomplish this great thing," said Robert Ponzio, an art teacher at the school.

"That's the great metaphor. This is literally a cultural mosaic of Canada."

The project wasn't just an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Canadian, Ponzio said. It also helped the students grow as artists and people.

"From my perspective, art is a universal language. These kids are learning how to speak," he said.

The artwork made by the Grade 10 to 12 students, has been received well by the broader community. Before and after seeing the paintings, Royal Canadian Legion branches in Port Burwell and Aylmer donated $1,500 to the school's visual art program.

That recognition is well deserved, in Ponzio's opinion. He said the students put their hearts and souls into the artwork. Grade 10 student Jane Hoffer said she and her classmates worked hard on the paintings.

"I was hesitant at the start of the project because it's my face, and it was blown up [in size]," she said.

It was a good opportunity to showcase her Canadian pride, especially when it comes to the country's reputation as a welcoming place for all.

Being involved in the project was also an opportunity to meet and learn from members of the legion.

"It was fun to see people who have fought for and done so many things for Canada come and see something that kind of reflects what they worked for," Hoffer said. "And talking to them and realizing that even though we're generations apart, we're not too much different in how thankful we are to be in Canada."

Grade 12 student Kristen Peters, like her classmates, put months of work into her piece and went for a more realistic style.

"I think it's amazing. I never really knew that we would get this far in the community, and I always kind of thought that it would stay as a class project, but I think it's amazing how far it's come," Peters said.

Now that it's complete, the mural is set for an ambitious future, including a grand unveiling at Aylmer's Elgin Innovation Centre on June 28 at 11 a.m.

After that, Ponzio said, his sights are set on displays in Toronto and Ottawa.

"I think it's something that Canadians could benefit from seeing. It's a reminder of what the cultural mosaic of Canada is. It's not just in the cities, it's here in the countryside, too," he said.

It's a sentiment Aimee Sawyers, the head of the school's art department, agrees with.

"I hope that we can keep making things like this happen for the school and for our community. I think [what the art represents] is of national importance for all of us, and I think that a lot of people can get excited and on board with it."