The Living Legacy of Student Art at CCHS

At Canmore Collegiate High School (CCHS), the smell of acrylic paint lingers lightly in the air as a student leans over an oversized canvas, sweeping paint across the surface with her fingers in quick deliberate motions. Her focus mirrors a tradition that stretches back through decades of student artists. For almost 30 years, Grade 12 Art 30 students have opted to contribute to a legacy project that marks their final year with lasting impact. What began as simple painted ceiling tiles has grown into a series of large-scale murals that are overflowing from the art room into the corridors and common areas of the school, capturing the attention of anyone passing by. These pieces are not only beautiful; they are permanent echoes of student voice and vision.

This year, two new murals have joined the collection. The first, titled “Florere,” stretches eight feet wide and four feet high. Painted in rich acrylic on an MDF panel, it pulses with colour and life, depicting a modern interpretation of the Garden of Eden. Designed and created by graduating students Sophie, Hannah, Elise, and Madelyn, the piece celebrates abundance in full bloom with creatures, foliage, a waterfall, and bursts of movement across the entire panel. 

The second, called "Just Keep Swimming" is painted on two adjoining canvases and was inspired by a photograph taken by one of the artists. Students Alex, Astrid, and Abigail transformed the quiet moment into a vivid underwater scene filled with marine life and shifting light. “It’s based on a photo of people standing in front of a tank, watching marine life pass by,” said CCHS Art teacher Rowan Hill. “They were drawn to the idea that viewers become part of the scene, and the animals almost seem to be watching us in return. There’s something poetic about that reversal.”

While the finished murals are striking, the process behind them is just as meaningful. Students are involved in developing the original concept, sketching mock-ups, getting administrative approval, and dedicating several weeks to painting in a shared studio space. 

“Working in small groups for the first time, they had to navigate differences in style, pace, and opinion,” said Rowan. “It’s not easy. They each have strengths, but the piece has to feel unified. They’ve come to compromise, divide the work, and trust each other. They learned quickly how much stronger they are when they bring different ideas to the table.”

Time constraints, size limitations, and the sheer physical space required to complete the murals lead to the conversion of an old darkroom into a dedicated mural studio for the art students. With a private space to paint, complete with rails for hanging and ample counter space, Rowan noted that students have found not just room to work, but also a creative sanctuary.

The impact of these murals reaches beyond the art room. During open houses, parents regularly comment on the beauty of the student work displayed throughout the school, and younger students are already lining up for their chance to take part. “I’ve already had a Grade 11 student come to me asking to reserve a spot for next year,” Rowan said. “They’ve seen what’s possible, and now they want to leave their own mark.” 

Back in the art room, the scent of paint still floats in the air as another student rushes to help complete the diptych painting before diploma exams begin, dipping her brush into a palette of colour, putting finishing touches on a coral reef. What began as a solitary gesture on canvas now belongs to something larger - a legacy built one brushstroke, one idea, one collaboration at a time. With every mural, the walls of Canmore Collegiate become a story, inspiring the next generation of artists in imagining how they’ll be remembered.