Blackfalds

Iron Ridge Secondary Campus Mural

By
Judy Carleton
Iron Ridge Secondary Campus Mural

Mural Project Acknowledgements

Project Recognition

The Blackfalds & Area Historical Society gratefully acknowledges Wolf Creek Public Schools for providing a permanent home for this remarkable mural in the Iron Ridge Secondary Campus foyer, where it will be appreciated for generations to come.

Artwork Details

Title: "The Trails That Tie Us Together"
Location: Iron Ridge Secondary Campus Foyer

This large (95 ‘ by 10 ‘) mural was funded by the Blackfalds & Area Historical Society, who gifted it to the Wolf Creek School District for the new Blackfalds high school. The mural is a multi-media artwork that depicts significant pre 1910 historical aspects of the local area, covering early trails, explorers, missionaries, Metis and Indigenous peoples, and their lives and pursuits.

This mural has a background of painted landscape reflecting the local area in the late 1800s with a painted depiction of the local pathways and the Blindman River. There are 9 paintings on wood forms with flora and fauna; 5 low relief clay sculpture vignettes of Arthur D. Gregson, a Red River cart, the Whitford Stopping House, a bison and the Blindman River dam; and 3 glass mosaic tile pieces of a black swallowtail butterfly, a Metis sash and moccasins.

Creative Team

Lead Artists:

Voyager Art Inc.

Dawn Detarando & Brian McArthur

Red Deer County

Project Contributors

Research & Development:

  • Judy Carleton - President, Blackfalds & Area Historical Society
  • Matt Hiltermann - Métis historian
  • Trisha Carleton, MA - Curator

Special Acknowledgements

The Blackfalds & Area Historical Society extends special thanks to:

  • The Red Deer River Naturalists for their generous project donation
  • Julia Sansregrets, whose Métis beadwork collection provided artistic inspiration

Unveiling Ceremony


The mural was officially unveiled during the opening of Iron Ridge Secondary Campus on September 3, 2024. The ceremony brought together students, faculty, Indigenous Elders, local officials, historical society members, and community guests.

Iron Ridge Historical Mural

Mural Entities

Mural Beaver

Mural Beaver

Horse & Carriage

Horse & Carriage

Blindman Dam

Blindman Dam

Native Flowers

Native Flowers

Arthur Gregson Entomologist

Arthur Gregson Entomologist

Ox and Wagon

Ox and Wagon

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Yellow Head Blackbird

Yellow Head Blackbird

Hand made moccasins

Hand made moccasins

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Rabbit hopping over flowers

Rabbit hopping over flowers

Hand made leathers

Hand made leathers

Red Fox

Red Fox

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

Berry Bush

Berry Bush