From Brick Walls to Blooming Stories
At the corner of Victoria and 49th Avenue, South Vancouver Neighbourhood House has stood since 1977. For decades, its neutral brick walls blended into the background, unreflective of the vibrance and community life unfolding inside. “Some participants have said that they thought our building was an insurance office and didn't know to come in until they took a closer look,” recalls Stephanie San, UX, Marketing and Communications Coordinator. “We were inspired to transform the outside of the building to foster a sense of welcoming and bring vibrance to our street as a way of engaging our community.”
The dream of a mural became a way to embody that transformation, not only to reimagine the building, but also to honour Indigenous roots and the land South Vancouver lives, works, and grows on. Through the City of Vancouver’s Placemaking grant, the Reframing South Vancouver Initiative worked with residents, most of them racialized or equity-seeking, to co-create something that would represent both their kaleidoscope of cultures and their shared connection to place.
The artist who would bring this vision to life, Aleia Johnny, arrived in a way that felt almost fated. “My Grandma Thelma Stogan was hosting an Indigenous workshop at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House in early 2025,” Aleia remembers. “Mara Cortez, (Community Engagement Programmer with Reframing South Vancouver and local muralist) was present at the workshop when my Grandma started talking about my recent journey into Native Art. Mara asked to see my artwork and projects and from there we grew a friendship which led to my participation in the mural project.”
South Vancouver Neighbourhood House chose Aleia because, as Stephanie describes, “Her vibrant art speaks beyond her canvas and captivates you in ways that are beyond words. Seeing her art makes you feel connected to the land and to the beings who existed before us. Aleia's creativity and intuition extends beyond her years, and the knowledge she carries is reflected in her work.”
When Aleia shared her initial design, a two-headed serpent, the Sinulkhy (sʔi:ɬqəy̓), Stephanie’s reaction was immediate and conflicted. “Why a snake? Is this a symbol of bad omen?” she remembers asking herself. A quick Google search seemed to confirm her fears, “since many stories of the Sinulkhy were not written in colonial formats but instead passed down orally through generations of elders.” It wasn’t until further research, when “I stumbled upon a video of a Musqueam elder telling the story of the Sinulkhy, that my eyes were opened to the depth and significance of its meaning for the Musqueam people,” Stephanie said.
That story is one of transformation itself. The Sinulkhy, a two-headed serpent, once lived in a lake in Musqueam territory. As it carved a path toward the Fraser River, a waterway that still anchors South Vancouver, everything in its way withered. But from its droppings grew the flowering plant məθkʷəy̓ (pronounced “meth-kwee”). From destruction came beauty, renewal, and even a name: Musqueam. Knowledge keepers remind us not to fear the serpent, but to respect it as a neighbour and a teacher.
In many ways, the mural became a living example of that lesson. It transformed a once-unnoticed wall into a welcoming landmark, just as it transformed how staff and residents understood the land they live on and the stories they inherit. “This project ties in transformation in two ways,” says Stephanie. “In the way of its transformation of the physical building, and the transformation of the story within the mural itself.”
For artist Aleia and the staff members helping to paint it, the act of painting was also grounding. “When painting the mural I feel like I'm part of the process to create something bigger than myself, leaving behind part of me that intertwines with South Vancouver Neighbourhood House's history and legacy,” says Cherry Wong, Community Engagement Programmer.
The Sinulkhy’s story is now etched into the walls of South Vancouver, reminding all who pass by that transformation is never simple. It carries loss, struggle, and renewal in equal measure. For a community where over half of residents are immigrants, this story resonates deeply. “This story of transformation not only reflects growing through hardships, but life after new beginnings,” Stephanie reflects. “South Vancouver Neighbourhood House strives to make sure that these journeys are honoured, stories are cherished, and our communities' contributions are valued.”
Rendering of mural final project
