Dear Alex Ferguson Families,

We are excited to share that beginning July 28, work will begin to restore and rejuvenate the beautiful mural on the south wall of our school. The project is expected to take approximately one week to complete.

We are honoured to welcome back Doug Driediger (https://www.dougdriediger.com) and his team to lead this restoration. Doug has a special connection to our school. His two daughters attended here more than 25 years ago, and he and his wife were highly involved members of our school community. He recently shared the process for the creation of the mural, including using students' hands as models for the mural! Doug continues to live in our neighbourhood, making this project especially meaningful.

Doug is an accomplished Calgary artist whose public artwork can be found throughout Canada. Here in Calgary, his work includes the iconic Legacy mural at the Calgary Petroleum Club, Holding Fast at Calgary Fire Headquarters, Giving Wings to the Dream for CUPS, public art at the Calgary International Airport, and numerous murals in schools and community spaces. His artwork can also be found at Parks Canada sites, including Pacific Rim National Park and Elk Island National Park, as well as Science World in Vancouver. Over the course of his 30-plus-year career, Doug has completed more than 40 large-scale public artworks and murals across Western Canada. 

We are thrilled that Doug is helping to bring this important piece of our school’s history back to life. Our school mural is a meaningful part of our school’s identity and history. It preserves our school’s story and reflects the generations of students, staff, and families who have shaped our community over time. It also honours the original contributions of the artist and the broader school community who invested their time, creativity, and care into its creation. In restoring the mural, we reinforce the value of stewardship, showing students that shared spaces and meaningful work are worth maintaining with respect and intention. The mural also enriches our learning environment, contributing to a school culture that values creativity, belonging, and pride in place. In addition, it serves as a visible connection between past and present students, strengthening continuity across generations and fostering a sense of shared legacy. Finally, it celebrates local arts and culture in a way that is present in students’ everyday experience, helping to create a distinctive and inspiring environment that reflects the importance of creativity in public spaces.

We look forward to sharing the renewed mural and the story behind the thoughtfully composed images, a special part of our school’s story, with our students, families, and community once the restoration is complete. 

Sincerely,

All AFS Teachers