Downtown to get seven more murals

Another seven large-scale murals are expected to appear downtown this year as part of an ongoing partnership between the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Downtown Association.

The arrangement was announced at Wednesday's meeting of the Downtown Association board of directors.

The seven new murals will accompany six others currently existing downtown, created as part of a partnership with the city's Future SSM initiative.

Paul Scornaienchi told tonight's meeting that contracts are currently being signed for this year's art installations, and even more murals are planned for the following year.

"Just today, the City of Sault Ste. Marie has gotten another series of funding for another year after," Scornaienchi said. "This next series of artists is all women female artists."

It was noted Wednesday that, so far, none of the downtown murals have been defaced by taggers.

"They will not tag someone else's work," said Ward 2 Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen, who formerly headed the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie.

In other news, Jennifer Lawson's popular downtown Sweet Greetings business has been acquired by IDA Drug Marts Sault Ste. Marie.

"Our Market Mall Pharmacy will be the first of our four locations to see the rebranding of our gift shop, and will also be the main Sweet Greetings operation where you will get to enjoy all of the goodies that Jennifer provides," IDA said in a social meeting post.