Community invited to unveiling of East Elgin students' mural on Aylmer Royal Canadian Legion’s Centennial

Posted On Tuesday May 05, 2026

The community is invited to celebrate a landmark moment where student artistry, community pride, and a century of Legion service come together. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 81 in Aylmer will unveil a permanent, fullscale reproduction of “On Guard for Thee,” a striking multicultural mural created by over 30 students at East Elgin Secondary School. The public reception will be held on May 23, 1:00 PM, at the Aylmer Royal Canadian Legion, 211 John Street North, Aylmer, ON.

Event Details

  • Date: May 23
  • Time: 1:00 PM
  • Location: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 81, 211 John Street North, Aylmer, ON

The reception is free and open to the public. Community members, families, students, and local media are warmly encouraged to attend.

About the Mural

“On Guard for Thee” began as a visual arts project at East Elgin Secondary School, growing into something far beyond the classroom. 33 students, representing a rich cross-section of backgrounds including newcomers from Africa, Ukraine, and Vietnam, participated. Each student painted a large-format self-portrait on individual panels measuring 40” x 28”. Assembled together, the panels span approximately 16’ x 20’ and are arranged to echo the colours and spirit of the Canadian flag.

The project drew immediate community recognition. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 524 in Port Burwell donated $500 at the project’s launch, and Legion Branch 81 in Aylmer contributed a further $1,000; a $1,500 investment in the school’s visual arts program and a vote of confidence in the students’ vision. The initial mural was subsequently covered by CBC News and has been celebrated as a vivid reminder that Canada’s cultural mosaic reaches deep into rural communities.

Now, through a City of Aylmer Community Grant awarded to Legion Branch 81, the mural will be reproduced at full scale on exterior sign boards and permanently installed on the Legion building; a fitting tribute to both the students’ work and the Legion’s 100th anniversary year.

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