Painting prehistoric creatures on the prairies

September 27, 2018

In the heart of the Canadian Badlands, Drumheller, Alta., is known for being the “dinosaur capital of the world.”

In addition to a world-class dinosaur museum and a 25-metre tall T-Rex – known as the World’s Largest Dinosaur – the town of 8,000 just northeast of Calgary boasts a DinoWalk with over 35 outdoor sculptures.

“There are so many dinosaurs to maintain plus they’re all outside, so they’re in the elements all year round,” said John Shoff, past president of the Drumheller DinoArts Association. “They just kind of deteriorate on their own. They need some TLC to keep them looking good.”

The association organizes volunteers and artists to paint the dinosaurs. The non-profit group fundraises throughout the year for the upkeep of the dinosaur sculptures. In 2017, the association received 100 cans of paint as part of a donation from our Communities in Full Colour Program.

Launched in 2016, Communities in Full Colour helps enhance and beautify communities across Western Canada. The program donates interior paint, exterior paint, primer, stain or specialty coatings to a range of charitable, non-profit and community groups.

“It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to improve not only the appearance, but to change the whole atmosphere of a space and organization,” said Cody Smith, FCL’s Director of Home and Building Solutions. “Volunteers are often the driving force behind many of these projects, which are a good way to bring people together.”

Since the program began, Co-op has donated more than 12,000 cans of CO-OP® IMAGINE paint to over 460 community projects.

For groups like the Drumheller DinoArts Association, the donation goes a long way to maintain the pieces, which create a positive experience for both tourists and locals.

“It takes a lot of the burden of that fundraising cost off our group,” Shoff said.

Visit www.home.crs for more information about the program and local impact stories