New mural by Kingston-based Indigenous artists Jaylene Cardinal and Dakota Ward installed at Rideau Heights Community Centre

The mural is named Wahkohtowin, a Cree word that expresses the interconnected nature of relationships, communities and natural systems. Its imagery and design were inspired through community consultation with residents of the Rideau Heights neighbourhood in a collaborative creative engagement opportunity led by the artists in spring 2024.  

Jaylene Cardinal and Dakota Ward are Cree artists who moved to Kingston from Edmonton in 2014, and they believe that art can help the world become not only a more understanding and considerate world but a happier and better place to live. 

“Jaylene and Dakota’s mural is a vibrant and meaningful addition to the Rideau Heights Community Centre because it reflects the vision residents have for the neighbourhood they call home,” said Taylor Norris, Public Art Coordinator at the City. “Murals are powerful tools for creative expression, community development and well-being, and developing a sense of belonging.” 

Wahkohtowin is the latest piece to be commissioned by the City of Kingston as part of the Public Art program, which invites artists to develop artworks and installations to be exhibited in public spaces such as streets, parks, community spaces and neighbourhoods. This project was a partnership between the Arts & Culture Services Department and the Community Development and Well-Being Department.  

The mural is now on display inside the Rideau Heights Community Centre. Learn more about Wahkohtowin and the Public Art program on the City’s website.