The Town of Saugeen Shores is proud to celebrate several community art installations in both Port Elgin and Southampton. These new public art pieces reflect Saugeen Shores’ strong commitment to place-making, cultural development, and downtown enhancement.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing more public art to both Port Elgin and Southampton,” said Mayor Luke Charbonneau. “These murals reflect a collaborative effort to tell our stories, honour our land, and create memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike.”
Saugeen First Nation Chief, Conrad Ritchie, also said that “…we are laying a blueprint for our future generations by working together.”
On Wednesday, September 17th, “The Land That Raised Us” mural, that is now on the Bell utility building at the corner of Highway 21 and Lansdowne Street in Southampton, is a 12-foot high by 32-foot-long mural, depicting the culture and connection to nature, was created by Emily Kewageshig and Taylor Cameron, artists from Saugeen First Nation. The artwork honours the ancestral territory of the Saugeen Ojibwe and invites reflection on our connections and shared responsibility to care for the land.
Emily Kewageshig is an Anishnaabe visual storyteller from Saugeen First Nation, who uses traditional and contemporary mediums to explore the interconnectedness of all life, bringing Indigenous knowledge and culture to public art, exhibitions, and children’s literature. Taylor Cameron is also an Ojibwe artist from Saugeen First Nation No. 29, whose vivid interpretations of nature and Anishinaabe life infuse his work with a dynamic energy and spiritual perspective.
The young couple were elementary students at the local G. C. Huston Public School in Southampton and went on to Saugeen District Senior School (SDSS) together where they studied art with teacher Jan Sanagan. “I am so proud of them,” said Sanagan. “I knew even in high school they were gifted.”
The young couple married on the previous weekend to the official reveal. Many of the images reflect their early lives, such as the hawk in the upper right corner that refers to the couple’s elementary school history as Huston Hawks, the motto of the G.C. Huston Public School, a fish reflecting their fishing culture … among many others.
Identified as a strategic action in both the Town’s Community Toolkits and Destination Development Plan, community art plays a vital role in revitalizing public spaces, strengthening local identity, and bringing people together through creative expression. More community art installations are planned in the months ahead as Saugeen Shores continues to prioritize creative place-making throughout the municipality.
