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Ottawa Citizen

What's up with the ‘hipster animals' on Sparks Street?

Article content Kevin McHale knows that the Block 2 redevelopment construction along Sparks Street isn't exactly a pretty sight. Article content 'Part of the reason these (hoarding) walls are put up is because construction is loud, and it's messy,' McHale said. 'These structures have to go in to make pedestrians safe.' Article content Article content As executive director of the Sparks Street Business Improvement Area (BIA), McHale also knows the construction is expected to last until the early 2030s, and that it's hardly kind to the pedestrian downtown experience. Article content Article content The solution? Twenty-seven murals that McHale dotingly calls 'The Hipster Animals.' Article content Article content 'We wanted something that would be amusing and entertaining to people,' McHale said. 'Just the funky treatment of Canadian animals, and just have some fun rather than having a boring gray wall that people have to walk by.' Article content Along the Sparks Street hoarding wall, just steps away from the Parliament Buildings, lie the murals depicting 15 different animals, including polar bears, foxes, otters, raccoons and Canadian geese. Some don sunglasses or headphones with smile-plastered faces. Some wave at passers-by, while some hold up a peace sign. All are embellished with vibrant hues of blues, reds, purples and pinks woven into their fur or feathers. Article content The animals are a product of a Sparks Street BIA and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) collaboration to transform the construction zone into something more 'enriching' for the downtown area. Article content Article content Ashley Jackson, a senior director with PSPC, says the animals are there 'for the long haul,' having first been installed in May and lasting until at least early 2030. Article content 'We're really working to lay a foundation for a space that's vibrant and inclusive and thriving,' Jackson said. 'It's about sparking interest in the space and building that lasting connection. The hoardings are going to be in place for a while and then as we go into the future, we really want to extend that long term.' Article content Article content 'They're quirky, proud and full of personality, just like Canadians,' she said. 'I was inspired to create these animals to give an opportunity to add some fun, colour and animation to the construction.' Article content What started as only a handful of animals — originally the Canada goose, beaver, moose and Canadian toad — quickly turned into a months-long process to create a band of furry and feathered friends. Each pose and expression came from Lawson standing in front of a mirror and moving in silly ways she thought would make pedestrians pause on their way by.