Matthew Farfan

How do you turn a parking lot into a tourist attraction? Cover the wall of a shopping centre with a colossal, full-colour mural depicting the region's past in all of its glorious seasons. That is exactly what the Giant Tiger store in Magog has done to their formerly bland Sherbrooke Street storefront. Titled L'Estrie en quatre temps, the mural is the work of Ontario artist Pierre Hardy, of Hardy Art Murals, who was commissioned by the store to paint the 70-foot (21-metre) painting.

Passers-by will notice quite a number of our famous natural or historic landmarks depicted in the mural: Lake Memphremagog, Owl's Head Mountain, Balance Rock, Barnston's Pinnacle, Magog's Vieux-Clocher, St-Benoît-du-Lac Abbey, a round barn, a mill, a locomotive, Sherbrooke Station, the Lone Pine, the steamer "Anthemis", and Capelton covered bridge. The mural depicts figures from Eastern Townships history, as well, including inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier riding in one of his snowmachines and a Native Indian surveying the lake. Townships wildlife is also featured prominently, including bears, turtles, Canada geese, ducks, an owl, an otter, and a heron.

This mural is certainly a treat for the eyes, as the many passers-by who stop to admire it will testify. And it's definitely a great way to spruce up a parking lot!

For more pictures, click here.



(Photo: Matthew Farfan)