Reconciliation can take many different forms. For Petro‑Canada, we have an opportunity to provide space for Indigenous Peoples to share their experiences and history, and to reclaim their identity, language, culture and nationhood through our network of sites. In September 2021, to acknowledge the first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we commissioned Indigenous artists across the country to create murals at six of our Petro‑Canada locations: Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and Kamloops. These six murals are now complete, and we are honoured to share these artists' amazing work and their stories of reconciliation.
To learn more about the artists showcased in the video and the vision for their murals, visit the links below.
Jessey Pacho
Jessey Pacho, a Black artist in Toronto, and his co-creator, an Indigenous artist (who has chosen to remain anonymous out of respect for their family), painted their mural “Our Children” at our Petro-Canada station at 117 Jarvis Street in Toronto, located in the territory of the Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people. Learn more about Jessey and his co-artist’s approach to art and their thoughts on reconciliation.
Pam Cailloux
Pam Cailloux - born in Chibougamau Québec, with Huron and Algonquin heritage - created her mural, “Mother Nature and her Natural Resources,” at our 545 Boulevard Henri-Bourassa E Petro‑Canada location in Montreal, Quebec, on the unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk), a place which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst nations. Learn more about Pam’s inspiration for her art as well as her participation in this project.
Marcel Mowatt
Marcel Mowatt who grew up in Pikogan, a reserve located in Témiscamingue, Quebec, created his mural, “Poïgan chesakewin” (Sacred Pipe Ceremony), at our 470 Bronson Ave. location in Ottawa, Ontario – a location that is on the unceded Algonquin territory. Marcel worked with Claudia Salguero, a Canadian-Colombian community engaged artist who acted as his mentor and assisted in some of the technical aspects of creating the mural. Learn more about Marcel’s background and the inspiration for his art.
Cyril Assiniboine
Cyril Assiniboine, Saulteux Ojibwa – born on the Long Plain First Nation community near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba – created his mural at our 1425 McPhillips St. location in Winnipeg, Manitoba, - located in Treaty 1 territory which includes the lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Peoples, and is on the homeland of the Metis Nation. Learn more about the inspiration for Cyril’s mural and his hopes for reconciliation.
Keegan Starlight
Keegan Starlight is an artist from the Tsuut’ina First Nation just west of Calgary. Keegan’s mural, entitled “Connected”, highlights the interconnection between the earth, the animals, the sky and the Creator. You’ll find Keegan’s mural at the Petro‑Canada location at 5505 Signal Hill Centre SW Calgary, AB on the territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. Learn more about Keegan’s mural and his participation in this project.
Michelle Stoney
Michelle Stoney – a member of the Gitxsan Nation, House of Delgamuukw, and Cree on her father’s side – created her mural, "Majagalee," (the Gitxsan word for both children and flowers) at our 1885 Trans-Canada Hwy W, Kamloops, BC location that is on the territories of the people of Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, situated within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation. Learn more about the inspiration for Michelle’s mural and the importance of art in storytelling.
Many thanks to each of our artists for creating these beautiful works of art and for giving us all an opportunity to share in and learn from your stories of reconciliation.
