The Bonnechere Valley Inspired is pleased to announce that Doors of Eganville was selected for the My Main Street Community Activator initiative and has received support to help reinvigorate the town and showcase the creative talent of local artists.
Bonnechere Valley Inspired is a volunteer group of creatives whose mandate is to foster a healthy, creative, culturally rich and socially connected community. The Doors of Eganville project will transform the doors of local businesses as they are painted by various local artists to increase the attractiveness of downtown and highlight the creative talents of local artists, artisans, local food producers, culture and history. Reinvigorating the downtown will bring more visitors and will help increase foot traffic to the downtown area.
My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods which will enhance the overall quality of life for residents while also promoting sustainable and inclusive community development. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), and supported by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Learn more about the My Main Street program at mymainstreet.ca.
Quotes
“We know that as we progress this project, the Doors of Eganville will become a unique hallmark bringing many visitors to experience the creativity in our small town.”
- Laurel Cook, President, Bonnechere Valley Inspired
“Vibrant main streets like downtown Eganville remind us of the value of investing in ‘place’ and the importance of participating in activities that make our shared lives more productive, creative and rewarding. The best thing about main streets is that we all have one.”
- Mary W. Rowe, CEO and President, Canadian Urban Institute
“Small businesses are the heart of our communities and the backbone of our local economies. The Government of Canada, through CUI, is investing in projects, such as Doors of Eganville, through My Main Street that enhance the local experience and boost the vibrancy of our main streets. Our main streets are crucial to the prosperity of our communities, and our government is pleased to support them as they grow.”
-The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
This is where the Doors of Eganville began. In 2023, Laurel Cook had been commissioned to paint a rendition of an Eganville Historical Point of Interest – the R.G. Reinke and Sons Hardware Store which currently houses Eganville Home Hardware. She noticed from the old pictures that the side door is an original door that used to lead upstairs to a dentist’s office. The door was badly in need of some TLC and so in Sep 2023, she approached to owners and with paint provided by Home Hardware, she painted the first “Door of Eganville”
After completing the Home Hardware door, Laurel Cook painted a new sign for Milano Pizzeria and after some consideration, decided to paint the door on the building in Jun 2024.
With the support of My Main Street Activator Stream, Bonnechere Valley Inspired was able to add additional painted doors. Christine Peltzer painted this one to brighten an unoccupied building in downtown Eganville. It was inspired by the local flowers near her home.
This lovely fantastical door is located at 140 Queen St, Genevieve Townsend’s Art Studio. This house is one of the original houses in Eganville and was once widely known as the Tate House.
Another door painted on the unoccupied building at the intersection of Bonnechere St and Bridge St at the centre of town. The old wooden door reminded Laurel Cook of an old barn door and after fixing the door, she added some intriguing animals. The door is at an angle in an alcove so people walking the street will come upon this door as a delightful surprise.
This door is located at Miller TimbrMart. It is the staff door that can be seen on the Bonnechere St side of the building as you enter into town. It’s to let you know that you have entered the beautiful township of Bonnechere Valley! Kathy Haycock, the artist, took inspiration from an old ad for Miller Lumber in the Old Home Week publication in 1944. Miller Lumber would log an area and then build cabins/small houses for sale on the cleared lots. A lot of history told in this door!
This door at 299 Bridge St (the side door of FoodMart) is currently in progress by Sylvia Guirguis. Extensive work was required to strip off the old chipped veneer, replace a missing piece of wood and sand the door before commencing the painting.
This door (on the left) at Conway Pharmacy/Connect Well Community Health at 251 Bridge St was painted by Laurel Cook
This door is also on the unoccupied building on Bonnechere St.
We had many people tell us that their children would stop and pet the puppy or kitten on the Wonky Donky door on the unoccupied building on Bonnechere St so we asked Anisa Claire to paint the opposite door specifically for kids. This will be our “childrens’ alcove”