Rest stops in Wellington

Wellington Community Association installs new benches in village

Weary walkers now have two new places to rest and contemplate in the village. The first two benches provided by the Wellington Community Association (WCA) were unveiled on Saturday. Last fall, the WCA put out a call to artists to submit ideas for painting a number of benches, to be built by woodworkers from Wellington on the Lake based on a heritage design from the Wellington Museum. The benches would be installed at various locations along Main Street to help encourage more pedestrian traffic. The first bench unveiled on Saturday was painted by artist Suzanne Joy Clark. It is painted in delicate pastel shades of green yellow and blue, and poses a number of questions for pedestrians to ponder while they rest in front of 286 Main Street. There is also a hidden question on the underside of the bench. The second bench is located at the Wellington Legion at 364 Main Street, and was painted by Nella Casson. It has a bold graphic design of stylized tulips, an allusion to the liberation of Holland by Canadian troops in the Second World War.

WCA members Peta Hall and Lisa Reddick thanked the artists and other community members for their work in getting this project started. The benches were built by Roy Perkin and Doug Smith. They are made of spruce and were shellacked and primed before being turned over to the artists for painting. The benches are placed on precast concrete slabs. The slab areas were excavated by Evan Nash—in the pouring rain. He also provided the artist sponsorship that made this project possible. Adam Busscher of Picton Home Hardware and Wellington Building Supplies also provided generous support.

The WCA have a number of projects planned to beautify the ambience of the village. Street banners will be installed during the summer, and a number of doorways on Main Street will be repainted. Two murals in the village are also in the works, as are “mini-gallery” installations at some of the village’s artist’s studios.

WCA members (L-R): Peta Hall and Lisa Reddick sit on the new bench on Wellington Main Street with (L-R): bench builders Doug Smith and Roy Perkin, and artists Suzanne Joy Clark and Nella Casson standing behind.