Laval's Murals

If you are not familiar with Canada's geography, you might have not heard of Laval. Laval is like Montreal's little sister separated at birth. They were not born at the same time, they don't look alike, but they come from the same Greater Montreal mother. The Rivière des Prairies is what splits them apart.

While Montreal is considered the second-most populous municipality in Canada after Toronto, Laval is considered the thirteenth largest city in terms of population in the country.

I live in the northern part on the Island of Montreal, very close to the Île Jésus, the island constituting the greater part of Laval. Thus, it's easy for me to jump on my bike and pedal over the river on Pie IX or Viau Bridge.

If I opt for Viau Bridge, which is also call Pont Ahuntsic, as in Ahuntsic-Cartierville the Montreal borough where I live, I end up in the Laval district of Pont-Viau.

Right at the other end of the bridge, I took numerous pictures of a single wall. I couldn't resist the whole of the colors, but I had to capture every one of the artwork's elements individually, so to leave out the parts showing the dilapidated and ugly building.

There is a forest next to the silhouettes on bicycles passing through a finish line.

Another piece of the puzzle.

A race, an hourglass... and Chronos, the personification of time, which is obviously the theme here. For what was once the mural's location, click on the link below.

Corner of Boulevard des Laurentides & Rue de Nevers

Second stop: a dépanneur. It's the word most commonly used around here for a convenience store. This one still stands on the shop's side, but it has now lost its luster, shall we say. You'll notice our battery holding friend at the top of the page.

93 Rue Videl

Further deep into laval, there is the Centre de la Nature park. And who says nature, says birds.

A view from the other side. I know, it looks about the same.

4002 Boulevard Saint-Martin Est

Close to the giant birdies, there is a small skatepark. Encircling the ramps and half-pipes, one will find a painting inspired by The Mysterious Cities of Gold, a French-Japanese animated series I used to watch as a kid, plus two other illustrated wood panels.

Les Mystérieuses Cités d'or's French opening video is pretty cool.

Tao, Esteban and Zia.

Spray paint cans coming to life.

It bears the Nature Center title with good reason.

An image of the Buddha?

The Sphinx? A pharaoh? Both?

The Sun, the Nile and the Pyramids of Giza.

Panel-Rama.

Centre de la nature de Laval

Before going back home by crossing over the Pie IX bridge, and since we are now in the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul district, let's hang out around, and see what is of interest near.

What I found was of a different style than what is made on the street by the typical graf artist. Judge by yourself.

Where's Waldo? Laying on a cloud.

Some local and recognizable clues on this garage door: the close-by church run by the Society of St Vincent De Paul, and a masked like a bandit woman reminiscent of the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Penitentiary nearby.