NORTH BATTLEFORD — A mural is taking shape on 12th Avenue at the corner of 101st Street to celebrate the life of local hockey hero Colby Cave.
From the Battlefords, Cave, who played with the Edmonton Oilers, passed away tragically in 2020 after suffering a brain bleed.
The mural project was started by the North Battleford Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).
"We wanted to create something that was impactful, but also brought people into our downtown to view it," said BID Executive Director Kori Humenny. "So, it wasn't just something people drove past and they were like, oh, that's nice. I wanted something that actually brings people into the downtown. Because Colby Cave was such an impactful person in our community and he has a ton of family here, we just wanted to honour him and commemorate his legacy and his life."
The project was started three years ago but took a while to progress.
The BID also received approval from Cave's family to take on the project.
Regina artist Harley Sinclair took on the work and started painting in August. The official unveiling is expected to take place on Nov. 22.
Humenny is thrilled to see how the mural is progressing.
"It's beautiful," she said. "He's done such a great job so far. I'm very impressed. I'm glad I took the time to find the right artist for the project.
"It's highlighting Colby as a hockey player," Humenny added. "We have portraits of him from his childhood here in the Battlefords, with the Battlefords Barons and the AAA Stars, and then highlighting his professional career, so in his Oilers jersey."
Cave also played with the Battlefords North Stars.
Humenny said it's great to see people's posts of the mural on social media.
"That's exactly what I was hoping to accomplish, creating a buzz around coming to downtown North Battleford to see this mural," she said. "There were a lot of people who obviously looked up to [Cave]. We are very much a hockey community, so it's to highlight someone that has gone really far."
The BID is also planning a Colby Cave memorial event at the Dekker Centre on Nov. 21.
"It's basically a tribute night honouring him," said Humenny. "We're also raising funds for the start-up of the Colby Cave Legacy Scholarship that will be out of North Battleford."
