Tthe Bloomfield Town Hall now sports a gigantic mural desgined by Sparkbox Studio’s Chrissy Poitras. 

After hundreds of hours of development at the County Road 5 studio and some much-needed attention to the building by the municipality, the colourful mural of flora and fauna was installed earlier this spring.

Prior to COVID, local business leaders and residents partnered with the County on a village revitalization study geared to improving the economic, physical and social well-being of the Bloomfield town centre. The results included an Action Plan geared to market, promote and further develop Bloomfield.

A Board of Management was also created. Chair Rob Leek said one of the group’s goals was to turn the formerly grey cinder-block public washroom into a welcoming space.

“The idea was that if a mother and her children came down off Main street in search of washrooms, she wouldn’t take one look at this building, turn around and keep going,” the Chair said with a chuckle. “In terms of our mandate for village revitalization, the washrooms were a prime candidate.”

Botanical Beauty

Ms. Poitras and her partner Kyle Topping were asked to bring something bright to the building’s facade. Ms. Poitras has done private commissions for The Ranch at Bloomfield, Hand Works and Angeline’s Inn.  She noted most of her murals are botanical in theme.

The Pinecrest Memorial elementary school grad said she developed her ideas by recalling the gardens there.

“I went for something a little less manicured, with more wild flowers and plants than you generally see in a planned garden,” she said. 

An image in a vintage gardening magazine was the inspiration.

The process started with digital drawings projected onto sections of heavily primed, weather-resistant signboard. Chalk outlines became stencils for hand-painted images.

“County staff did a wonderful job preparing the building and the Board is very pleased with the work and the overall result,” said Mr. Leek.

New fencing on the east and west sides of the Town Hall parking lot, shaded picnic tables, and a roof extension over the washroom entrances to protect visitors from both sun and inclement weather if they have to wait to use the facilities are also under consideration.