Painted memorial bench at Kits Beach gets temporary reprieve from removal
Posted June 27, 2019 10:53 am.
Last Updated June 28, 2019 5:19 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A colourfully painted bench near Kitsilano Beach that was set for removal by the City has been given temporary life until after July 2.
Julia Gudkova painted the bench with a bright colourful design, which bears a memorial plaque to her partner, Colin MacKay, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2015.
But the City says that the tribute violates the rules because it doesn’t conform to the look of the park and Gudkova didn’t have permission to paint the bench.
“They said that, current they don’t have an initiative that allows for art, and any art is considered tagging,” says Gudkova.
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Colin’s mother Bea MacKay says the art beautifully describes her son.
“I think it’s gorgeous. It’s just a great tribute to my son and I really love it,” says MacKay. “I think it’s happy and bright and that’s how he was.”
Passersby to the area thought the bench added something to the beach.
“If you notice the other benches around here, they’re really grey and old and weathered. And this just brings life back to this environment,” says one man.
The bench was set to be removed and replaced with a new unpainted one. However, NEWS 1130 learns that the removal has been put of until after a memorial for Colin on July 2.
Gudkova is hopefully that bench will remain afterwards. She’s started a petition to keep it.
