Students from Russell Street school have turned ordinary traffic‑signal boxes into a gallery of colour across the city. Over 300 pieces were submitted under the theme ‘My Sarnia: What Home Means to Me’, and a curated selection now wraps the metal boxes at ten busy intersections, giving commuters a splash of youthful imagination.

The project grew out of a partnership between the school’s builders’ club, a Kiwanis‑sponsored group, and the municipal transportation and development department. Teacher Ryan Lounsbury and city development manager Alister Brown helped translate the drawings into digital wraps, turning a civic‑utility project into a community‑building exercise.

The artwork ranges from familiar local icons – the Blue Water Bridge, favourite fry shops and sports scenes – to more personal vignettes such as a circle of hands and a tiny neighbourhood library. Each image reflects how the young artists see their neighbourhood, turning everyday streets into a storybook of Sarnia life.

Residents have responded with enthusiasm, noting how the bright panels enliven otherwise bland infrastructure. The initiative demonstrates how a simple collaboration can give students a public voice, inspire pride in place, and offer a model for other schools looking to colour their city’s corners.

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