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The Bracebridge culture and recreation committee is recommending council approve the restoration of a mural depicting the history of Muskoka.

The 34-year-old mural is 60 feet long by nine feet tall and needs an overall cleaning to freshen it up and remove accumulated grime and tobacco smoke.

Roger Pearce of The Painting Doctor has quoted a price of $5,500 to do the work.
It will take three weeks to clean the piece and then a coating to protect it from ultraviolet rays will be added, advised councillor Steven Clement.
“Once it’s done it can be framed and mounted,” he said.

The funds for the cleaning project would come from Lakeland Power reserve account, said committee chair Graydon Smith.

Clement made restoring the mural a special project after the Bracebridge Agricultural Society reminded council of its existence by requesting that it be displayed in the fairgrounds hall instead of being hidden away in storage.

Smith said the only place the mural could be displayed is in the Sportsplex committee room.

“It would be a place where most of the community can see it,” he said.

The idea of cutting the mural into four pieces to make it easier to display was abandoned after a brief discussion at a May council meeting.

The mural might clash with artwork on display for an art show or might not be appropriate for all events, suggested committee member Nancy Robinson.

Smith said a curtain that could be lowered might resolve that issue.
“It will require some thought,” he said.

“We don’t do enough to promote our heritage,” said committee member Rick Maloney. “That mural promotes the history of the town. The Sportsplex hall is an excellent place for it.”

“The only time I would see it removed or covered would be for a wedding or another event with particular decorating requirements.”

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