TRITON, N.L. — Triton is a more colourful place these days, after a group of volunteers comprised of students and community members took it upon themselves to apply a drop of paint and some unique designs to the town's bus shelters.
At the front of the movement was Ontario transplant Gloria Scott. She originally approached the town council with the idea and asked that any person interested help out.
Even now, as many of the shelters are completed, there are people wanting to get involved.
The response surprised her. When word got out, Scott had dozens of expressions of interest in helping with the project, including from the town, which donated the supplies.
“It’s really been a community effort,” she said.
Volunteers started painting at the beginning of July, and the project started to redefine the landscape in Triton.
“I wanted to do something to beautify the town and do something for the kids." — Gloria Scott
The idea grew out of a desire to give back to Scott’s adopted home.
“I wanted to do something to beautify the town and do something for the kids,” she said.
That led her to the bus shelters.
There are 11 shelters in the Triton area and, although not all of them are painted yet, each of the designs is different.
Volunteers send their idea to Scott and she in turn signs off on it. She has yet to ask for another design from an artist.
Those designs touch different aspects of life in Triton and the province. There are homages to the fishery and the jelly bean row houses that the province has become known for.
There is a Sesame Street design and another that encourages children to read.
One design is especially poignant for Scott. The bus shelter near the cenotaph where the town holds its Memorial Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies is being painted as a memorial to military members.
When finished, it will feature 1,000 poppies and the names of those from the area who served in wartime.
“I really wanted to do the memorial,” said Scott, whose father served in the military. “It hits home for me.
The freshly painted bus shelters are already a hit with townspeople and visitors alike.
Staycation visitors have often stopped while the artists have been working to take pictures and comment on the work being done.
Residents have done the same.
Social media posts have garnered plenty of shares and positive comments from people in the region.
“There is nothing like this in our town,” said Amber White, one of the volunteers. "This is the first time we’ve done anything to catch people’s attention.”
In a way, the last couple of months have helped create a closer community of artists in Triton.
The volunteers are quick to help others with their work if they’re needed. It has allowed people to meet others in their community who share the same interests as they do.
“It's been great to meet new people,” said White.
Terry Lee Roberts is one of the volunteers who has donated her artistic talents to decorating the shelters. She said she would love if there were more shelters to paint and decorate.
She and her daughter have been working together on a couple of shelters. Roberts designed the Sesame Street shelter, while her daughter came up with a design full of inspirational quotes, along with numbers for the Kids Help Phone and the local mental-health advocacy group.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” said Roberts. “We’ve had so much fun.”
Nicholas Mercer is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering central Newfoundland for SaltWire Network
