Commissioner looks to launch memorial mural program for city benches

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — One woman’s tribute to her late partner may spark a new, city-wide program.

Julia Gudkova painted a bright, colourful design on the bench at Kits Beach that bears a memorial plaque to her partner, Colin MacKay, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2015.

Last week Gudkova was told the bench would be removed because painting is prohibited, but after a petition and some media attention the bench has been granted a reprieve.

The controversy caught the attention of Park Board Commissioner Tricia Barker.

“I went ‘Wow.’ We should step in and do something about this,” she says.

She will be bringing a motion forward to ask city staff to study the possibility of launching a memorial bench mural program.

I will bring forward a motion for a "Bench Mural Program" at the next @ParkBoard meeting. Let's see if we can get this moving! Thanks to the Julia Goudkova and of course, Collin Mckay. https://t.co/oJfo7RCwmG

— Tricia Barker ???????????????????????????????????? (@TriciaBarker49) June 28, 2019

Barker says she has experience working with terminally ill people and their families. She understands that memorials can provide crucial comfort to bereaved family members and loved ones.

“It is something very close to my heart,” she says.

Barker will bring her motion to the board’s July 8th meeting which she says will start the process of exploring the possibilities and pitfalls of a city-wide program.

Barker says Julia’s story is an example of what can happen when municipal governments pay attention to and speak directly with their constituents.

“People can actually reach out to us and maybe get their wishes handled,” she says.

There are over 1,100 memorial benches in the city. Barker says that–until now–no one has ever painted one.