the town of edson is transformed with 5 new murals, feature film and book celebrating, 'resilience'

In the town of Edson, Alberta, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t just about reopening doors—it was about rebuilding connection. In 2022, the Resilience Project emerged as a creative and deeply local response, led by the Culture and Arts Network of Edson (CANOE) in partnership with the Edson & District Historical Society. At the center of the project were five powerful murals, painted by local and regional artists on downtown buildings. Each mural told a piece of Edson’s story—wildlife returning after wildfire, the quiet strength of veterans, and the unity of a community that had weathered crisis together. One mural in particular, painted by Brie Adkins on the side of Switzer’s Drugs, stood as a tribute to over 100 years of business passed through the family - its mural, rich in historic and contemporary imagery, reminded viewers that resilience often looks like simply showing up, day after day. As the murals came to life, they transformed familiar streets into open-air galleries, where residents and visitors could pause, reflect, and reconnect. But the project didn’t end with the art on the walls. To deepen the storytelling, organizers captured local voices through videography, producing the documentary Resilience – A Small Town Definition, and compiled a commemorative book, Resilience – A Collaboration, filled with portraits and reflections from Edson residents. Together, the murals, film, and book wove a vivid tapestry of shared strength and hope—proof that even in the wake of disruption, a town can come together to create beauty, preserve memory, and celebrate what it means to endure.