Bright idea looking for a new home, purpose

Construction workers rounded up Jasper’s most colourful caribou herd last week and pointed them in the direction of the town’s environmental services department for storage.

“They won’t be destroyed, that’s for sure,” said Janet Cook, environmental stewardship co-ordinator for the town. 

The brainchild of Ursula Winkler, who borrowed the idea for painted construction hoardings from Banff and used it draw attention to the plight of woodland caribou, the panels were created by students at Jasper Elementary School.

The vivid fence was part of the Turret streetscape during construction of assisted living units for the Evergreen Foundation, and after a year, some are showing signs of wear.

Winkler said the panels could be repaired and re-used at other construction sites, which was the original plan, “but there may be some other options.”

“Some seniors have asked about using them, and Parks Canada has expressed interest,” said Winkler, who invited anyone interested to suggest a future use for the paintings.