Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2002
Funded by: Communities in Bloom, City of Williams Lake
About:
Initially, this mural met with some resistance from the Firehall. The Fire Chief thought the mural would be flowers and he wanted none of it. Half way through the mural creation, the firemen decided they liked it. When the mural was completed they all posed proudly for a picture in front of it. The firefighters were later inspired to paint the door in the wall red to match the mural. It is fitting that the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society now inhabits this building and its past use as a firehall will not be forgotten thanks to Dwayne’s vivid mural. Depicted here is a history of three eras of fire-fighting. On the right, we see a steam-powered water pumper connected to a horse buggy. Centered is the large spool for water hoses. The men would push the hand cart to the fire where they would connect to a water truck or to a water hydrant. On the left is a modern-day fire truck beside fire fighters in action wearing modern-day gear. The fire itself was inspired by the Tony’s Leather fire (1950) downtown Williams Lake.
Artistic Notes:
Dwayne’s challenge here was to blend eras in a readable way. Notice the illusion he has created of the wall falling and the fire is coming towards the viewer. Dwayne worked closely on this mural with eldest daughter, Denica Davis, who was at the time an aspiring young artist.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2018
Funder: City of Williams Lake
About:
This display is made up of three murals located in the foyer of the Cariboo Memorial Arena Complex. Each mural celebrates the rich hockey history of our area, and the importance of sports to building a healthy community. The three teams depicted; Alkali Lake Braves – circa 1931, the Williams Lake Stampeders – circa 1961, and the Williams lake Mustangs – circa 1982, were selected for both their accomplishments, as well as their time frame between them to show how long of a time hockey has been played in the area. Many of the players were imported in and have stayed on and have become important leaders and businessmen in the community.
Artistic Notes:
Painting so many faces together proved to be a challenge. One of the most intriguing parts were to get the head sizes for every one correct. One does not realize that the people in the back row will be just a tiny bit smaller than in the front. One size does not fit all!
Artists: Tiffany Jorgensen and Sarah Sigurdson
Funded by: Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2011
Funded by: Cariboo Central Arts and Culture Society and BC’s Community Tourism Opportunities program via the Cariboo Coast Tourism Association, and with the support of the Cariboo Regional District and City of Williams Lake
About:
This is a mural where you can find new hidden details each time you look. Notice the sky is a river, look for where the water runs backward, find the impossible angles. There are hands throughout the design, creative hands holding and gasping and building. The large silhouette figure is abstract to portray an idea coming into the world, cradled by an artist’s hands. This mural shows ideas becoming art. It celebrates how an artist’s hands birth ideas that transcend the physical world.
Artistic Notes:
This mural was created using Dwayne’s usual method. He designs the image, then puts the image over a photo of the wall on his computer, then puts a graph on the actual wall and blocks in the design using the graph. However, Dwayne and Steven soon went “off book” with this creative process. An error during graphing made the main figure in silhouette far larger than intended. Happy with the effect of the error, the artists found themselves inspired to add faces in the cloud, include hidden animals, and delight in painting details that can only exist in an imagined world. Dwayne worked with his son Steven on this mural. The wording on the mural’s commemoration plaque is written by Steven.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2007
Funded by: Communities in Bloom, City Vacuum, Paint Depot, City of Wiliams Lake in recognition of Doug and Floris Martineau
About:
Communities in Bloom asked Dwayne to paint a ranch scene, and he wanted to depict an old-fashioned branding. Dwayne painted from photos he’d taken years ago at a Dorsey Ranch branding. The scene reminds him of Texas Fosbery’s Ranch, by Lee’s Corner out west, a place Dwayne spent a lot of time as a child. Dwayne says if it weren’t for his first horse Knothead, an $85 gift from his father, he would have been a cowboy. Fortunately for us, Knothead lived up to his name and Dwayne got so frustrated with the horse that he chose a career in the arts instead. Dwayne says these days only the small ranches brand like this and that, for the most part, the whole branding culture is gone. The modern ranches tag their cattle on the ear. This ranch scene is inspired by the Dorsey Ranch by Anahim Lake in Tsilhqot’in territory “out west” along highway 20. An old fashioned “branding” is taking place, where cowboys heat the branding irons in the fire and seer the cattle in the spring. The boy sitting on the back of the truck is Dwayne as a child, enjoying the company of a ranch hand he remembers that always found time to play guitar and tell stories when there was fencing work to be done.
Artistic Notes:
The texture and shape of the wall dictated the mural design. On the left where the wall is high subjects are close to life-sized. On the right, where the wall is shorter, subjects are receding into the distance. Dwayne and Steven spent a lot of time painting the ranch’s ground, working to achieve the illusion of it falling back. The wall had been freshly stuccoed which made painting in textures quite challenging. Dwayne’s son Steven helped by painting the trees and the ground.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2003
Funded by: Communities in Bloom with special thanks to City of Williams Lake, Rotary of Williams Lake, Canadian Tire (WL), Kal Tire, Tire Craft, Big O, Bee Jay’s Towing, Big B Tire, OK Tire, Fountain Tire and Sam’s Restaurant
About:
Communities in Bloom had just opened the River Valley Trail. Dwayne wanted to bring an image of the trail to downtown. He found a beautiful spot, photographed it thoroughly, and then painted it as accurately as he could. You can look for the exact spot on the trail by entering at the Mackenzie access point, and then turning left (south) on the trail. Passerby, Ralph Heitman, suggested to Dwayne that he should paint a deer in the bushes. Dwayne did so, and also added a fawn. Now, over a decade later, trees have grown up in front of the painted deer and fawn. You can still peek through and see them – which Dwayne invites school kids to do when he takes classes on mural tours. The mural depicts a specific spot on the River Valley Trail, a 12km pedestrian and biking path that runs from Williams Lake to the Fraser River.
Artistic Notes:
Dwayne says this mural is all about light, the light of an single moment in time. This is his most nature-focussed mural and he has used an impressionist style. Dwayne painted this one all on his own.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2004
Funded by: The Williams Lake Tribune
About:
Clive and Irene Stangoe purchased Williams Lake The Tribune from George Renner in 1950 and published the paper for the next two decades from the lower floor of their home situated on Oliver Street. Clive was the publisher and Irene was the community editor. In 1973 The Black family bought The Tribune and moved it to its current location on 1st Ave. North. The Williams Lake Tribune was the first paper purchased by the now huge community newspaper chain Black Press. The cowboy silhouette is from the Tribune Paper’s logo. The Tribune wanted its original location, the Stangoe home, painted in the mural along with cows to symbolize Williams Lake’s western culture. Dwayne pulled the 75th issue of the paper and combined the real content of that issue with his made-up story about Communities in Bloom – a tip-of-the-hat to the organization that initiated the mural program.
Artistic Notes:
The first challenge with this wall was the vent that spewed out black residue. Dwayne decided to cover the vent with the dark figure in silhouette. His next challenge was to make the mural both nostalgic and modern. He achieved this by painting the old Tribune building in a realistic style, and painting a larger-than-life paper sporting a 3D page curl. Dwayne had help from his son Steven who painted the cows, trees, and the silhouette.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2003
Funded by: Communities in Bloom, City of Williams Lake
About:
Communities in Bloom (CIB) asked Dwayne for a mural of local industry. Dwayne chose the four industries depicted, and CIB approved his design. The cowboy and the horse are not based on specific individuals to give a timeless and universal feel to the figures. End of the Roll had just moved into the building and they were happy to see the mural going up. The mural depicts Williams Lake’s four industries, from left to right: Ranching, tourism/rodeo, logging and mining.
Artistic Notes:
Dwayne’s challenge was to combine such different scenes into a single congruous work. He wanted to give each industry its own space and tie them into a shared experience, a goal and a challenge that faces Williams Lake’s diverse community. To achieve his goal, Dwayne focused on areas of colour, thinking in blocks and shapes rather than image details. The rider and horse figure work as a separation between our oldest industry on the left, and our two more modern industries on the right, the cowboy embodying the courage and resilience that has pulled our community through the ups and downs that come with a natural resource-based economy. Dwayne had some help with the cows from his son Steven.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2015
Funded by: Crosina Family, Downtown Williams Lake BIA, City of Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District
About:
The mural is on the wall of a building owned by Louis James Crosina and Clara Anna Noble’s great-granddaughter, Anita Crosina. This was a fun mural to paint because many people stopped by to tell Dwayne and Steven their memories of the Crosina family and of that era of local history. Back in 1963 Lil died unexpectedly of a heart attack while working in the 153 mile store, after which the door was locked and was never re-opened. The store has remained undisturbed, just as Lil left it, and is now a time capsule and a treasure for historians. There is a plan to move the 153 mile store and contents to downtown Williams Lake where it can be enjoyed by the public. Louis and Clara Crosina (1800’s) beside their only daughter Lil Crosina’s portrait and their one of their three son’s with his horse and dog. Also depicted are the Crosina family’s 153 mile store (1904 -1963), roadhouse and ranch.
Artistic Notes:
Dwayne used the three windows in the building to separate the mural into scenes spanning time and place. Sepia tones set the mural in the deep past. The scenes are so compelling the viewer has the experience of not seeing the windows at all. The texture of the wall itself was a challenge for the muralist. It is bumpy, deep and porous stucco and it soaked up a lot of paint. Dwayne used caulking to smooth out sections were detail was needed, and some of those areas now come out further than other parts of the wall. Dwayne’s son Steven helped paint this mural.
Artist: Al-Lisa Tresierra McKay, 2018 – with support from Davis Arts
Funded by: Downtown Williams Lake/City of Williams Lake
About:
This mural depicts how all life comes from great mystery and then goes back into great mystery. Spirit must be honoured to keep the balance of life and tangible form. So many are disconnected from our true connection to spirit and the natural world. This mural is a prayer for the town to be in balance. This mural combines First Nations culture with the feminine spirit and the importance of salmon, the sun, and animals of the region.
Artistic Notes:
Kucwelcken means Backbone in Secwepemc language. When Al-Lisa was invited to paint this mural, she prayed for a vision to help guide her art. She knew she wanted to honour the First Nations, the feminine, and the salmon. The prayer that came through did so in slow drops and stages. It began with the river mother, the salmon, the sun, and then the animals. Al-Lisa painted gold symbols around the spiral in the sun. It is interesting because the metalic paint is olive green without direct sunlight, some angles make it seem as though it is invisible and when the sun is directly across, the whole painted sun glows shimmering gold. Al-Lisa Tresierra McKay of Miss White Spider Arts designed this mural. She had the help of Dwayne Davis and Dwayne’s son Steven to help her put her “little painting on a very big wall”.
Following a storage problem at the Station House Gallery & Gift Shop, led Diane and then board members to an artistic and historical solution. The gallery uses a lot of wooden shelving units, tables, and plinths that needed a home on the ground floor. The building at #1 McKenzie Ave. N. is an historical building that can’t have major alterations so after a lot of discussion a storage unit was purchased. Diane described her vision to Brandy Stecyk, one of the board members, who created a mock up, and the project to beautify the storage container was launched. Diane, with support from the board, carefully chose people with connections to the building itself and to the arts community in the Cariboo to be depicted in the mural. The mural depicts Libby Abbot, a resident of the Station House in its early days, holding a bucket used for whitewashing the building – her mother’s job. Libby went on to work in the Station House Gallery’s gift shop. Vivien Cowen, the woman with the sketch pad, along with her daughters Sania Cornwall and Dru Hodgson were some of the movers and shakers behind the beginnings of the Cariboo Art Society and the Station House Gallery.
The seated man is George Keener, a well-known member of the community and long time director with the Cariboo Friendship Society. He was also involved with the Williams Lake stockyards for more than fifty years.
Standing on the left is Vivienne Dandridge Lanford, who came by train to teach at the Chimney Valley School in the late 1940’s. She was part of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps and is shown in her uniform. She was a member and supporter of the gallery.
The mural was brought to life thanks to the planning, design, and artistic talents of Brandy Stecyk and Dwayne Davis, in the fall of 2021.
Painted in 2023 by Tiffany Jorgensen and Sarah Sigurdson of Cariboo Art Beat, Unbreakable was designed to represent the culture of Williams Lake. This mural pays homage to the business that has made it’s home at 48 Yorston Street for many years, as well as to our World Famous Williams Lake Stampede. The mural was painted with an air of realism, showcasing our cityscape as the background. Jorgensen commented that the mural depicts the essence of Williams Lake being rooted in tradition, while simutanously breaking through as new and exciting. For her, it holds a true feel of Williams Lake – familiar, beautiful, evolving, and a powerful yet natural presence. This mural was funded by Public Art Grants from Downtown Williams Lake BIA and City of Williams Lake, and by Stampede Glass.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2012
Funded by: Friendship Society, Downtown Williams Lake BIA, City of Williams Lake
About:
Dwayne conducted in-depth research at the local museum, online, and with people at the Friendship Society to make this mural as true to history as possible. Research was difficult as very little of the Secwepemc culture has been recorded. The garments worn by the figures picking berries are considered to be accurate by locals as well as the cedar or birch bark baskets they are holding. Other traditional regalia would have been buck skin and feathers or fur. Dwayne had input from many Elders who confirmed and collaborated on getting the details right, especially with the sweat lodge. Modern sweat lodge structures are much the same today, however, instead of hides tarps and blankets are now used. Dwayne remembers seeing the Tsilhqot’in people himself in the 70’s, scraping hides with a flattened hoe on wooden scaffolding as depicted in this mural. The salmon drying in the mural is laid out in Secwepemc style as opposed to Lillooet style. The end result is like a thin jerky. A local dip net builder made sure Dwayne got the dip net tool painted correctly. Depiction of Secwepemc culture’s day-to-day living before colonization. The scene is set behind the Fraser River by Soda Creek where the current Xatsull Heritage Village site is located. Man in foreground is holding a dip net, a tool for fishing that is still used today by the Secwepemc and Tsilhqot’in First Nations in the Fraser. In the background are drying racks for fish and a sweat lodge made of hides. A woman is scraping a hide as it is stretched out on wooden scaffolding.
Artistic Notes:
The painted mural area leads down into a lower entry space, beckoning the viewer to the bottom stair where they become surrounded by the mural. This was a unique opportunity, to paint outside and still have a surround-styled mural. Dwayne focused on making the corners of the space disappear, while merging the separate scenes into a panoramic whole. Two amateur artists, Miranda Fontaine (staff at Friendship Society) and Jamie Moore (summer student at Downtown Williams Lake BIA) helped to paint this mural.
Crafted from an original photo taken by Frederick Dally in 1867, Nine Chiefs depicts a group of nine indigenous leaders who traveled from the Cariboo to New Westminster, BC, for political discussions on reservation placements. The nine chiefs are wearing a variety of traditional dress, including leather, tassled jackets and furs. Throughout the mural you can also see a number of traditional tools, drums, baskets, and more. The Nine Chiefs mural was painted by local artist Dwayne Davis in 2017, under the instruction of the Cariboo Frienship Society. The nine chiefs from the original photo are represented by the nine centre men in the mural. From left to right, we believe there were: Na nah of Dog Creek Band, Quil – quailse of Alkali Lake Band, Ta – o’task of Canoe Creek Band, Williams of Williams Lake Band, Se – as – kut of Kenpesq’t (Shuswap) Band, Timpt khan of Babine Lake Band, Silkosalish of Lillooet Band, Kam – eo – saltze of Soda Creek Band, and Sosastumpi of Bridge Creek Band. (Source: First Nations Land Rights and Environmentalism in British Columbia, http://www.firstnations.de/indian_land.htm)
Artists: Tiffany Jorgensen and Sarah Sigurdson – 2019
Funded by: Downtown Williams Lake BIA and The City of Williams Lake
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2004
Funded by: Communities in Bloom, City of Williams Lake, Peterson Contracting, The Paint Depot, Leon’s Painting, Windsor Plywood, and Davis Arts
About:
Dwayne says the railway wasn’t supposed to travel through Williams Lake originally, it was planned for the much larger centre at the time 150 Mile House, then on to Quesnel. But, “in true wild-west fashion” says Dwayne, “someone paid someone and somehow, the railroad got re-routed to its current location and this City’s future was assured.” Another strong influence that helped to build Williams Lake is the Stampede Rodeo, an event that will reach its 100th year in 2026. Now a popular family attraction, the Stampede started out with dare-devil events and wild parties in the streets and many unruly cowboys locked in jail. As for the mural’s three “Williams,” William Pinchbeck (1831 – 1893) was a gold rush roadhouse operator, ranch owner, and an officer for the British Columbia Provincial Police. Chief William, namesake of the City of Williams Lake, was chief in 1842 when the first priest, Father Demers, visited the Cariboo and New Caledonia. Chief William offered Father Demers his own house to stay in and the Chief himself moved into his son’s house next door. Chief William was responsible for keeping the peace between the Aboriginal people and the early gold miners in 1859. He died in the smallpox epidemic of 1862. His son Chief William Junior took over leadership of the Williams Lake Secwepemc people and after some persistent lobbying he managed to convince the provincial government to give his people the Sugarcane reserve in 1879. While Dwayne was painting the mural, a passerby, William Lyne, told him about his own relative, William Lyne Senior who was an early settler in the Williams Lake area. Dwayne looked at the photo and promptly added the 3rd William to the mural. This mural was painted for Williams Lake’s 75th birthday and depicts the town’s early influences: The Pacific Great Eastern Railway, cowboy & ranching culture, and the City’s three “Williams”: William Pinchbeck (left), Chief William (centre), and William Lyne Sr. (right). The cowboys here are Pierro Squinahan and Patrick Chelsea shown performing an early stampede rodeo event called Roman Racing where cowboys would ride two horses with one foot on each horse.
Artistic Notes:
At a mural price of $4000, and the largest mural Dwayne had ever been commissioned for, his challenge was to keep costs down. During the long painting process, it rained often and at one point the scaffolding got stuck and almost tipped over. Our prolific Dwayne Davis almost became part of Williams Lake history right then and there! Of all Dwayne’s murals in Williams Lake, this one covers the largest square footage. Lion Carrigon donated time to prepare the wall for the mural and Peterson Contracting donated power scaffolding so Dwayne could access the complete wall to paint it.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2014
Funded by: Downtown Williams Lake BIA and City of Williams Lake on Williams Lake’s 85th Anniversary
About:
Dwayne wanted to paint a scene from a roadhouse which were vital centers during the goldrush era before the railroad. Dwayne says the stage coaches could only make 20-30 miles a day, so we had a lot of these roadhouses dotting the gold rush trail. They provided a post office, café, and hotel services to gold miners. Towns like Williams Lake grew up around the roadhouses. The practice of the day was for gold miners to stop and get rest and supplies on the way to Barkerville and then, depending on their luck, they would return to the roadhouse to either buy it, or work there until they could afford to get back on the goldrush trail. This is the scene from a typical roadhouse, a stopping place for stage coaches on their way to and from the Barkerville gold rush. The mural is dedicated to the many posts that serviced the road-weary travellers of the 1860’s to the mid 1900’s from Lillooet to the Cariboo to Barkerville. The car and truck are from the 1920’s. The man on the horse is Antoine Boitanio (1880’s – 1940’s) who was born on the Alkali Lake Reserve and was instrumental in starting the Williams Lake Stampede. Boitanio Mall, Boitanio Park and Boitanio Lake all bear his hame. The man smoking is Charlie Twann, honoured in 2006 by BC Cowboy Hall of Fame after 70 years of working on cattle ranches. When Dwayne was a child he saw Twann’s photo and he always remembered it – he painted Twann’s photo into this mural because his pose reminded Dwayne of all the Tsilhqot’in cowboys. The man in the middle is the property owner’s dad who is still alive and well and living in the area.
Artistic Notes:
Sepia tones are used to capture the feel of a time long ago. Dwayne used the truck and car to anchor the foreground of the mural in the actual modern-day parking lot, to give the viewer the impression that one could step into the past and join the gold rush fever. Dwayne had help from his uncle Stew Davis, who is not an artist but was willing to do blocking-in work. Artist Elizabeth Hoelderl contributed her skills to parts of the pick-up and the car wheels.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2012
Funded by: Downtown Williams Lake BIA, Cariboo Friendship Society and support of the Cariboo Regional District and City of Williams Lake through the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society
About:
The “What a Boy Wants” sign above the bike for sale is Dwayne’s tip-of-the-hat to the biking community that was just starting to take off at the mural’s painting in 2012. General Mercantile & Tack did not really exist, but it is the kind of store that would have been the hub of each community during the 1890’s. Featured in the mural are the real historical figures Judge Begbie (1819 – 1894), standing beside the entry to the store, and Lloyd Cyclone Smith (1895 – 1932), standing in the doorway holding a saddle. The Dry Goods salesman, sitting with a cat, was painted from a photo of the property owner’s grandfather.
Artistic Notes:
Dwayne chose to paint in sepia tones to give the mural a 19th century feel. The only detail not in sepia tones are the flowers in the window boxes, which Dwayne added to bring colour to the mural. Dwayne wanted to make this mural approachable and he capitalized on the empty space in front of the mural wall by creating a design that lends itself to interaction. His goal was to make the viewer feel they are part of the mural. The many people who pose in front of this mural, with vintage cars and clothing, or just for fun, are a testament to Dwayne’s success. Two amateur artists, Miranda Fontaine (staff at Friendship Society) and Jamie Moore (summer student at Downtown Williams Lake BIA) helped to paint this mural. Dwayne likes to mentor amateur mural artists. Typically, he creates the mural design and then shows the artists how to paint rough work, or specific details. On this mural, the young artists had the opportunity to paint quite a bit, and Dwayne spent as much time mentoring as he did painting himself.
Artists: Tiffany Jorgensen & Sarah Sigurdson
Funded by: Downtown Williams Lake – Rural Dividend Grant 2019
Re tsitcw-emp … home. Not just a dwelling, not just a location. Home is safety. Love. Family.
We are proud to present this beautiful Downtown Williams Lake mural, painted by the very talented Al-Lisa McKay of Miss White Spider Arts. A mother’s arms protect and shelter, giving peace and security despite the pull of the wind. The colours in the mother’s dress represent wisdom and bravery, and the red dress of the daughter represents courage. This mural glows in the afternoon sun and adds such warmth and beauty to our building.
We want to thank Al-Lisa for bringing this vision to life, and also thank Williams Lake First Nation for giving their guidance and blessing to the project. The mural is a recognition of the past, a tribute to the journey that has taken place, and a hope for healing to continue in the future.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2008
Funded by: Communities in Bloom
About:
This garden scene was inspired by one of Dwayne’s earliest trips to the coast where he saw Bouchard Gardens for the first time. Those early memories, combined with input from Communities in Bloom, gave rise to the sanctuary now depicted on the wall. A garden scene from the Artist’s imagination.
Artistic Notes:
The mural was originally planned with a border all the way around, but it was a challenge to create the illusion of the brick receding back towards the painted gazebo. Dwayne achieved the “walk in” feel by extending the painted brick outside the border to the bottom of the wall, where the painting now touches the real parking lot cement. The painting is done in an impressionist style, with details blurred, and is meant to be gazed at from a distance. Artist Lee Sollenberger and friend Darren Thompson worked with Dwayne on this mural. Darren painted the black border surrounding the picture and learned to paint flowers. The three had a great time working on the mural together and Dwayne says that to date, this mural was the most fun to paint.
Artists: Brittany Murphy, Jazmyn Lyons, Mandee Beaulieu, Tiffany Jorgensen and Sarah Sigurdson – 2020
Funded by: Downtown Williams Lake BIA, Williams Lake Indian Band & Williams Lake & District Credit Union
Painted during the summer of 2022, Mural of Dreams is a student-led mural project, combining creative forces from Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin and Cariboo Art Beat. The mural was painted by 36 youth ranging in age from 9 – 22; their contribution also included the planning and design of the mural. Mural of Dreams is the largest mural in downtown Williams Lake. The project was completed with mentorship from Tiffany Jorgensen and Sarah Sigurdson.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2013
Funded by: A Downtown Williams Lake BIA Initiative in partnership with Davis Arts. Project made possible with contributions from Williams Lake and District Credit Union, Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society, Cariboo Regional District and City of Williams Lake.
About:
In 2013 Williams Lake was coming out of a depression and Dwayne felt inspired to paint the 1920’s era, a time that felt care-free and playful. He chose to paint a speakeasy scene because he noticed there were three windows on the wall, and that made him think of the three entertainment venues in Williams Lake that burned down: The Maple Leaf Hotel (1920-1977) at 1st and Oliver, the Ranch Motel (1919-1921) at Oliver Street and Mackenzie and the Lakeview Hotel (fire 2005) at Oliver and Yorston. The other half of the mural depicts a bakery, which Dwayne chose as a tip-of-the-hat to the building’s current occupant, Taylor Made Cakes. A speakeasy and bakery from the roaring 20’s era. Find Charlie Chaplin enjoying a moment out of the spotlight.
Artistic Notes:
Dwayne’s mural uses a forced perspective to create the illusion that one could walk into the mural. The original plan was for the business there to set up a patio, table and chairs, which would have added depth to the trompe d’oeil effect. Downtown Williams Lake BIA Summer student, Abbigayle Taylor, worked with Dwayne on this mural. Abbigayle is the daughter of the couple that own and run the bakery Taylor Made Cakes, the business directly beside the mural.
Artist: Dwayne Davis & Steven Davis-Gosling
Made Possible by: Dan and Vivian Simons, Spectre Automotive, City of Williams Lake, plus individuals and community groups. (The most prominent of these are acknowledged in a plaque dedicated to the mural.)
About:
(From Dwayne Davis, artist) The mural’s purpose is to show the moose that reside in our area, and to bring awareness to their environmental needs to help keep a healthy and strong population for future generations to enjoy.
The project was originally the brainchild of Kane Fraser. He mentioned to Dan Simons that the wall on the building would make a great spot for Dan to have a mural. Dan in turn asked me at Davis Arts to come up with a concept and a quote. I made a concept package that Dan took around. The original design for the wall was laid out with more sky and smaller sized moose, to help to limit the cost of the project. I was asked by Scott Nelson to make the moose more prominent in the design … “Go big or go home!” So I changed the layout to the design that became the framework of the now finished mural.
Artistic Notes:
Painted mostly in acrylic exterior house paints, the 22 X 55 foot Cow Moose mural was painted over 25 days.
Spearheaded by Andrew Sandberg, president of the Daybreak Rotay Club, this mural salutes all of the volunteers in our community. The Rotary Recognizes Volunteers mural was painted in 2022 by Dwayne Davis, with the Rotary logo, trees and many helping hands providing a foundation, volunteers from our community were then invited to participate in the finishing of the mural, adding their own hand prints as the leaves on each of the trees in the mural. It is a true testiment to our community, and the spirit of giving to one another through our time and efforts. This mural was funded by public art grants from Downtown Williams Lake BIA and City of Williams Lake, and by Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Williams Lake.
The underlying concepts of alternative medicine are far older than those of conventional, allopathic medicine and have in fact infused various healing traditions around the world since the dawn of recorded history.
As early as 5000 BCE, for example, physician-sages formulating the healing traditions of both traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine recognised that human beings were comprised of body, mind and spirit and that health represented a harmonious balance within all three of these aspects of existence as well as the free flow of invisible vital energy.It is important to recognize that we, practitioners of alternative medicine, are not opposed to conventional medical practices and do not hesitate to employ them when dealing with patients faced with acute, life threatening illnesses or injuries.Both systems of medicine have much to offer and the wisest form of health care is one which makes use of each of them in an integrated manner that most fully meets patient needs.
Trusted in the community for over 30 years, the skilled professionals at Williams Lake Physiotherapy Clinic offer a myriad of treatment methods proven to restore and maintain optimal physical function and mobility. Whether you’re just recently injured or you’ve been dealing with chronic pain for years, physiotherapy is an essential approach to bodily wellness
Caribou Ski Source For Sports is a member of Canada’s largest buying group, and is affiliated with over 150 other Source For Sports stores across Canada. This membership gives us access to top level products at competitive prices.
We are a locally owned sporting good and service retailer, specializing in equipment for Curling, Hockey, Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Fitness, Ski, Snowboard & more! We are also your home for lifestyle apparel and footwear like running shoes & hiking shoes to keep you active and in the game. We feature sunglass eyewear, hats, bags, official team jerseys, underwear & kids sports. Custom quality team uniforms, custom apparel and made to order equipment is available in store.
We have proudly been serving Williams Lake and the surrounding area since 1976. We are conveniently located to draw customers from many great surrounding towns including; Quesnel & 100 Mile House
We work with local South African producers to bring quality products directly to you, guaranteeing a unique taste experience! All our products are made from natural ingredients. Local artisans work daily to ensure you are able to taste, experience and have a full understanding of how the best ingredients are sourced, packaged and brought together for you to enjoy. We thrive on building lasting relationships. We strive to supply specially selected products while using practices that promote a positive social impact based on passion and craftsmanship.
Spearheaded by Andrew Sandberg, president of the Daybreak Rotay Club, this mural salutes all of the volunteers in our community. The Rotary Recognizes Volunteers mural was painted in 2022 by Dwayne Davis, with the Rotary logo, trees and many helping hands providing a foundation, volunteers from our community were then invited to participate in the finishing of the mural, adding their own hand prints as the leaves on each of the trees in the mural. It is a true testiment to our community, and the spirit of giving to one another through our time and efforts. This mural was funded by public art grants from Downtown Williams Lake BIA and City of Williams Lake, and by Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Williams Lake.
Artist: Dwayne Davis, 2004
Funded by: The Williams Lake Tribune
About:
Clive and Irene Stangoe purchased Williams Lake The Tribune from George Renner in 1950 and published the paper for the next two decades from the lower floor of their home situated on Oliver Street. Clive was the publisher and Irene was the community editor. In 1973 The Black family bought The Tribune and moved it to its current location on 1st Ave. North. The Williams Lake Tribune was the first paper purchased by the now huge community newspaper chain Black Press. The cowboy silhouette is from the Tribune Paper’s logo. The Tribune wanted its original location, the Stangoe home, painted in the mural along with cows to symbolize Williams Lake’s western culture. Dwayne pulled the 75th issue of the paper and combined the real content of that issue with his made-up story about Communities in Bloom – a tip-of-the-hat to the organization that initiated the mural program.
Artistic Notes:
The first challenge with this wall was the vent that spewed out black residue. Dwayne decided to cover the vent with the dark figure in silhouette. His next challenge was to make the mural both nostalgic and modern. He achieved this by painting the old Tribune building in a realistic style, and painting a larger-than-life paper sporting a 3D page curl. Dwayne had help from his son Steven who painted the cows, trees, and the silhouette.
The Potato House Project is a community initiative to celebrate one of the last standing downtown heritage houses of Williams Lake.
Purchased in May 2011, the Potato House is now held by the “Potato House Sustainable Community Society” – a not for profit organization.
Our purposes are to carry out activities that inspire self-sufficiency and a smaller ecological footprint and to operate a high-profile drop-in centre and garden space for the educational benefit of citizens.
We are a very RV-friendly town! We have free RV-only parking right in the core of the downtown, across from beautiful Boitanio Park and just steps from all amenities.
The Caring Society works to ensure the safety and well-being of First Nations youth and their families through education initiatives, public policy campaigns and providing quality resources to support communities. Using a reconciliation framework that addresses contemporary hardships for Indigenous families in ways that uplift all Canadians, the Caring Society champions culturally based equity for First Nations children and their families so that they can grow up safely at home, be healthy, achieve their dreams, celebrate their languages and culture and be proud of who they are. The Caring Society proudly works with our partners in Canada and around the world to promote the rights of Indigenous children.
Body sugaring is the safest and most superior hair removal technique as it removes the hair from the root while exfoliating the skin
Bombshell Factory Studio is a full service studio for hair and esthetics, hair services, nails, pedicures, lashes, waxing and spray tanning in one location.
Mist Me Airbrush Tanning is a mobile service for all your spray tan needs!
all services provided by a certified spray tan specialist.
Providing therapeutic, sports, deep tissue, pregnancy, and relaxation massage. Treatment plans include remedial exercises.
Grace Space Boutique sells new and gently used women’s and children’s fashions and accessories, all of which have been donated or are sold on consignment. Proceeds support the Adult & Teen Challenge Society of BC, an organization that helps people overcome addiction issues. A community care office has been opened in Williams Lake and offers group recovery classes, one-on-one recovery classes, mental health coach, and a concerned persons class (for people who are concerned about someone in addiction).
Holistic well being in the Heart of Williams Lake. Unwind with a Indian Head Massage, leg and foot massage or balance your body with a Body Talk Session.
Bookkeeping service in Williams Lake, British Columbia
Consus completes a variety of work, mainly specializing in the forestry and utilities sectors. Projects vary annually, with a mix of both direct award and tendered contracts. Based in Williams Lake, BC the majority of Forestry work is completed for clients in the Williams Lake, Quesnel and 100MH TSA’s. Our utilities department provides company services throughout the province. Program and project sizes vary depending on client requirements, but for a more detailed list of services we provide please visit our Services page
We are a very RV-friendly town! We have free RV-only parking right in the core of the downtown, across from beautiful Boitanio Park and just steps from all amenities.
The Wellness Room offers Holistic Health Services including Raynor Deep Tissue Massage, Relaxation Massage, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Energy Healing & Readings, Yoga, Workshops and more.
We have Bowling Leagues for all ages,
bowling birthday parties,
friends and family bowling,
groups and fundraising events,
and our ever popular “Cosmic Bowling”
For all your bike, kayak, climb, ski, board, skate and lifestyle needs
Not only do we offer Signs and Printing, we also create personalized promotional products such as t-shirts, mugs, mouse pads and more. Our spacious facility allows us to offer our customers secure overnight vehicle storage in our compound, a drive-in, heated bay for installations, and a comfortable seating area for customers while they wait.
Brian Garten of Praying Mantis Tattoo has been tattooing in Williams lake for over 21 years!
Serving traditional, authentic, homemade Asian cuisine.
Stretching across south-central British Columbia from the Cariboo Mountains in the east to the Central Coast and the sparkling Pacific Ocean in the west, this is a region that truly encompasses the incredible beauty and variety of British Columbia’s eco-systems.Key communities in our region are: Quesnel, Williams Lake, Bella Coola, 100 Mile House, and Lillooet. The CARIBOO CHILCOTIN COAST is full of pristine, natural beauty, history, culture and endless adventures. Discovered during the Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1860s, this region offers you a step back in time while visiting the old Gold Rush Towns of the Cariboo, the amazing Chilcotin and stunning Central Coast. all providing some of the finest outdoor adventure activities Canada has to offer. Rich in culture, history, and a sense of getting away from urbanity, the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast is truly “A Land Without Limits” where the land is to be respected and appreciated by all.
We supply high performance race winning parts to racers throughout western Canada. Also high octane race fuel, tires, shock dyno service & race shock repairs – for circle track cars, drag racing, road course, off-road vehicles, muscle cars, hot rods & more.
A place to meet old and new friends and enjoy good food & cold beer
At Lake City Denture Clinic we specialize in everything dentures! Book a FREE consult with our Registered Denturist to find the right treatment for you.
Williams Lake’s top restaurant for Asian cuisine. Sushi Sakura serves authentic Japanese, Korean and other Asian dishes that has pleased the Cariboo community for over 10 years. *Sushi Sakura is not affiliated with businesses outside of Williams Lake
The Royal Canadian Legion is a not-for-profit Canadian ex-service organization (veterans organization) founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide
Lake City Glass in Williams Lake, BC has been a locally owned and operated glass shop since 1985. We are fully equipped to handle all of your automotive, residential, and commercial glass needs. You can also visit us for a full line of automotive accessories at reasonable prices. Our glaziers are experienced, efficient, and always professional. You will receive high-quality services with great attention to detail and clear, accurate quotes.
Stampede Glass is Williams Lake and the Cariboo region’s go-to shop for all glass needs. We are a locally owned and operated business which first opened in October 1993 at Williams Lake. We offer auto, residential and commercial glass services. We are fully licensed and insured, and are an accredited ICBC Glass Express shop. Our goal is to offer glass products and services tailored to the needs of our customers.
Painted in 2023 by Tiffany Jorgensen and Sarah Sigurdson of Cariboo Art Beat, Unbreakable was designed to represent the culture of Williams Lake. This mural pays homage to the business that has made it’s home at 48 Yorston Street for many years, as well as to our World Famous Williams Lake Stampede. The mural was painted with an air of realism, showcasing our cityscape as the background. Jorgensen commented that the mural depicts the essence of Williams Lake being rooted in tradition, while simutanously breaking through as new and exciting. For her, it holds a true feel of Williams Lake – familiar, beautiful, evolving, and a powerful yet natural presence. This mural was funded by Public Art Grants from Downtown Williams Lake BIA and City of Williams Lake, and by Stampede Glass.
Brent’s goal at Essence Pilates is to offer small classes with personalized programs for every body. Brent believes this is important so that results are noticed and injuries are prevented. Thorough guidance and a personal approach is what Essence Pilates Fitness Studio is all about.
He started his private practice in Williams Lake, BC which offered him the rural lifestyle he looked forward to. From a professional perspective, he enjoyed the challenges and opportunities a rural practice offered, and soon he realized that he needed to master more advanced techniques and procedures to better serve his patients and become a leading dentist in Williams Lake, BC.
Built by the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in late 1919, the Station House, is Williams Lake’s oldest building and has always served as a centre of activity for the community. Over the years it has been a meeting place for civic, schooI boards and other groups. In the 60’s and 70’s the building fell into a state of disrepair, a bit of an eyesore in fact. A group of concerned citizens formed a Society to preserve it and that group, seeing the need for a cultural centre formally became the Station House Studio & Gallery Society in 1981. Since that time it has again become a place to see old friends and enjoy conversations about the town’s goings on.
The building still has its original wood floors, passenger waiting room bench and blueprints are proudly displayed in the stairwell to the upper gallery.
In 2019 the Station House celebrates 100 years of serving the community.
Following a storage problem at the Station House Gallery & Gift Shop, led Diane and then board members to an artistic and historical solution. The gallery uses a lot of wooden shelving units, tables, and plinths that needed a home on the ground floor. The building at #1 McKenzie Ave. N. is an historical building that can’t have major alterations so after a lot of discussion a storage unit was purchased. Diane described her vision to Brandy Stecyk, one of the board members, who created a mock up, and the project to beautify the storage container was launched. Diane, with support from the board, carefully chose people with connections to the building itself and to the arts community in the Cariboo to be depicted in the mural. The mural depicts Libby Abbot, a resident of the Station House in its early days, holding a bucket used for whitewashing the building – her mother’s job. Libby went on to work in the Station House Gallery’s gift shop. Vivien Cowen, the woman with the sketch pad, along with her daughters Sania Cornwall and Dru Hodgson were some of the movers and shakers behind the beginnings of the Cariboo Art Society and the Station House Gallery.
The seated man is George Keener, a well-known member of the community and long time director with the Cariboo Friendship Society. He was also involved with the Williams Lake stockyards for more than fifty years.
Standing on the left is Vivienne Dandridge Lanford, who came by train to teach at the Chimney Valley School in the late 1940’s. She was part of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps and is shown in her uniform. She was a member and supporter of the gallery.
The mural was brought to life thanks to the planning, design, and artistic talents of Brandy Stecyk and Dwayne Davis, in the fall of 2021.
Welcome to Axis Family Resources. Our Mission is to be the leader in the delivery of community social service while enhancing the lives of the diverse people we serve, our employees and our partners. We specialize in providing community based programs, resources and opportunities for families seeking support.
The Williams Lake Curling Club is a not-for-profit society that has been around since 1947.
The Stampede Park is home to the world famous Williams Lake Stampede.
A focal point of the community, the Stampede Park contains the rodeo grounds and grandstand, an indoor riding arena, equestrian race track, cattle penning arena and stables.
No need to turn around or backtrack with the Downtown Williams Lake “mini circle route”. We make it easy for you to visit us, stretch your legs, and stock up on supplies. Enter Downtown Williams Lake via Oliver Street and leave town via Mackenzie Avenue, or vice versa. Or don’t leave at all, and book your full service hook-up at the Stampede Grounds.
Retail – Cobbler Crystals and Curiosities
Shoe repair services
This is the longest standing trail network in Williams Lake and is host to some of the most stunning scenery in the Cariboo. The network has 28 trails totalling over 45Km of single track riding. The network is 28% beginner, 37% intermediate and 40% advanced. All trails can be accessed via a nice climb up Jimmy’s Fox or by shuttling up Fox mountain road. There are three trailheads on the network, all of which has a large kiosk with maps and other information about the trails.
This network is just north of Williams Lake and can be accessed at Deep Creek or Soda Creek. For a super fun quick loop, park at the top of the road leading to X’atsull Heritage Village. Follow the trail under the highway, up, around and down. Looking to extend your ride? Take one of the trails down to X’atsull. This beautiful site is nestled on the banks of the Fraser River. Looking for a killer cross country? Check out Trailforks for a 30km ride with awesome views of the Fraser river and the valley. Be prepared for a few down trees and overgrowth on the trails.
Desous is a half hour drive west of Williams Lake and is home to some truly amazing free riding. Descents of 3,500 feet from the top of Desous Mountain all the way to the Fraser River make this home to some of the biggest lines this side of Golden. This area is intended for advanced riders, as there is no real easy way down. If you’re looking for big lines, this is where it’s at!