New mural at FLVT underpass showcases student creativity

By Lethbridge Herald on June 14, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
LETHBRIDGE HERALD

A first of its kind mural within the city, in the pedestrian underpass near Father Leonard Van Tighem School, has been unveiled and is highlighting the creativity of local youth.

Through the Youth Engagement Pilot Project, students from FLVT school were paired with experienced muralists Lacey Jane Wilburn and Layla Folkmann, known together as LALA Art, and with Leanne Kembel, student engagement coordinator and assistant artist.

The project began with FLVT students from Grade 4 to Grade 9 expressing what they love about their community, their school, and life in Lethbridge through visual storytelling during a series of art workshops. And under the guidance of the artists and student engagement coordinator, students created drawings that celebrated family, nature, local landmarks, and more.

Kembel said during the unveiling ceremony that her experience with the mural was amazing, as she worked with the students who did an amazing job. 

“They were so proud of their art, and it was so amazing to see them come up with the colours and the design. Doing this project was one of my favourites projects I’ve ever done,” said Kembel. 

Folkmann added that it was a very vivid and exciting project, and it was a multidimensional project that was inspired by the students’ drawings. 

“To be able to develop it with them at the beginning and then also finish it with them when they got to put the paint on the wall, it was just a full circle and it was really satisfying to see their pride in the project,” said Folkmann. 

Jane Wilburn said the mural project was extra meaningful for her as she has a “little man” and working with kids throughout the project was very special. 

“I hope that all this kids as they grow older, they get more and more excited about what they’ve done and inspire the next generation of artists to be big, bold and creative,” said Jane Wilburn. 

FLVT Grade 4 teacher, Emily Boutland said that the students were thrilled to see their ideas come to life as the artists wove their drawings into a larger mural composition. 

“Their excitement and enthusiasm, from contributing their artwork to painting in the tunnel, was contagious. The whole school has been buzzing about the transformation. It’s brought a real sense of pride to both our students and the community who use the tunnel each day,” said Boutland.

Two Grade 9 students that took part of the project, Lolu Awoderu and Wesley Vizcarra said they had lots of fun participating and learning different painting techniques with the artists. 

“They let us go into the tunnel and paint on the walls, which was a lot of fun,” said Awoderu. 

“It was a lot of fun, especially when we were painting we started signing, the drawings and the colours were amazing,” said Vizcarra. 

This pilot project serves as an informative experience for future Public Art Program initiatives. It also serves a purpose, as murals in the City’s Public Art collection have proven to mitigate graffiti in public spaces. Public art also helps people feel safer and more connected, turning practical spaces into more welcoming spaces.