The fate of the beloved mural on Fort Saskatchewan’s iconic water tower will be up for debate at the April 18 city council meeting, as a public backlash puts pressure on councillors to rethink a recent decision to replace it.
The mural, a fixture since 1995, is set to be destroyed this summer as part of a $1.3 million refurbishment project. The repainting can’t proceed, however, until council decides what’s going back on the tower—if anything at all.
Last week, council hit the brakes, agreeing to pause any work until the April 18 meeting. That’s when Councillor Patrick Noyen is expected to table a motion to rescind the earlier plan to slap on a minimalist version of the city logo instead.
Local residents have flooded social media with complaints and launched an online petition demanding the current mural stay put. While the structure is no longer vital to water delivery—it’s used to stabilize pressure—it remains a visible symbol of the city, and still plays a role in emergency communications.
Council had rejected a months-long public consultation process, opting instead for a simple, logo-based design. But with public outrage mounting, the mural might get a second life—either as a replica, a refreshed version, or something entirely new.
