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Diversity Mural

Diversity Mural was created by artists from diverse cultures to showcase flowers, animals and objects representing over 36 cultures. The mural celebrates the beauty and strength of cultural diversity in Fredericton.

Artists included:

  • Miguelina Izaguirre (Cuba) – lead artist
  •  Katharine Cerrato (Honduras)
  • Suzy Mouhawej (Lebanon)
  • Joanna Zhang (China)
  • Olga Tepfer (Israel)
  • Karine Lugo (Columbia)
  • Olka Art Collective: Parisa Partovi, Ismaeil Rezaei, Layla Partovi, Tania Sedighi (Iran)
  • Katya Naiman (Ukraine)
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Art in the Park
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Learn about the meanings of each image:

The common name sampaguita is believed to come from the Spanish words “sumpa kita” which means “I promise you.” It has a long history as a symbol of love and devotion. The flower blooms full-year and have white, small, dainty, star-shaped blossoms, which open at night and wilt in less than a day.
The cedar of Lebanon tree is an evergreen with beautiful wood that has been used for thousands of years. It symbolizes resilience and immortality.
The beaver spirit animal symbolizes ingenuity and persistence when it comes to work. When the beaver totem appears to you, you are being encouraged to be diligent until the task is completed. The beaver meaning also speaks about productivity and achievement.
Fiddleheads are the curled, edible shoots of the ostrich fern and are considered a seasonal delicacy in many parts of Canada.
Peacock, the national bird of India, symbolizes grace, pride, and beauty. It’s a sign of joy for all who see them.
The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable and well studied butterflies on the planet. Its orange wings are laced with black lines and bordered with white dots. Famous for their seasonal migration, millions of monarchs migrate from the United States and Canada south to California and Mexico for the winter.
Cherry blossoms, also known as sakura in Japan, are the small, delicate pink flowers produced by cherry blossom trees. In Japanese cultural, cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of the spring, a time of renewal, and the short-lived nature of life. Their life is very short. After their beauty peaks around two weeks, the blossoms start to fall.
The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. In Celtic symbolism the thistle represents nobility and graciousness.
The rose, national flower of Iraq and Iran, symbolizes love & beauty, honour, faith, devotion, passion and sensuality.
Mischievous and curious, the Raven plays important roles in Indigenous cultures. There are various symbolic meanings that include creation, transformation, knowledge, prestige as well as the complexity of nature, the subtlety of truth. It is believed by some that the Raven is a long-distance healer and is known as the “keeper of secrets,” it helps us in our lives by exposing the truth of keeping secrets that could potentially harm us, in doing so it helps us back to good health.
The Tulip is the most famous flower from Holland and is seen by many as the symbol of a declaration of love.
In Asian cultures, bamboo is a symbol of moral integrity, resistance, modesty, loyalty, strength, flexibility and health. Its strength teaches us to stand upright and its flexibility teaches us to adapt to the harshest circumstances. The combination of these virtues teaches us how to find balance and inner peace in our lives, in turn improving our health.
The Jasmine is the national flower of Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. It often symbolizes love, beauty or sensuality. The pure white blossoms of the Jasmine flower can also symbolize purity.
Macaws are native to Central America and North America (only Mexico), South America, and formerly the Caribbean. The macaw was seen as a guardian associated with the direction of the south, as well as a symbol of summertime, fertility, and healing. The Pueblo people saw the macaw as a symbol of the sun. For many of the tribes of Central and South America, they believe the macaw brings healing through color and light.
Rhododendron, national flower of Nepal, symbolizes love, beauty and energy and can help tie a bouquet together with its symbolism of optimism and cheer.
The sunflower, national flower of Ukraine, represents the warmth and power of the sun and symbolizes energy, life and well-being.
Bird-of-paradise flower, also called crane flower, ornamental plant of the family Strelitziaceae native to South Africa. It is known as the ultimate symbol of paradise and freedom. Due to its tropical nature, this flower also symbolizes freedom and joy.
The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia Arnoldi, weighs up to 7 kg (15 pounds) and only grows on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Phyllobates terribilis is the most highly toxic of all frogs, and is one of three species known to be used by natives of South American tribes as sources of poison for their hunting darts.
A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Irish culture. It is so intertwined thanks to Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick, using the three petals of the shamrock to illustrate the mysteries of the Holy Trinity to the Celtic pagans. Each leaf represents the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Inukhsuk (pronounced ih-nook-suuk) mirrors this Canadian spirit of friendship and community. An Inukshuk in the shape of a person signifies safety, hope and friendship. These stone sculptures were also important for navigation, as a point of reference, as a marker for hunting grounds, or to denote a food cache.
The Chinese dragon symbolizes potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. It is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck.
Water lilies, a symbol of Bangladesh, are a type of flower that can be found in water, therefore, they often have a symbolic meaning of essence and birth, which it also means, ultimately, the circle of life we all have.
One hundred years after the United States entered World War I, the red poppy still symbolizes the sacrifices made by soldiers during the World War. Millions of people in countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Belgium, celebrate Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, every November.
A chamomile represents ”may all your dreams and wishes be fulfilled“. The plant represents humility. Russia made its official declaration about the flower as national flower in 1998.
Paisley or paisley pattern is an ornamental textile design using the boteh (Persian) or buta, a teardrop-shaped motif with a curved upper end. It is believed by some that the buta is the combination of a stylized floral spray and a cypress tree: a Zoroastrian symbol of life and eternity.
The Lotus flower is regarded in many different cultures, especially in eastern religions, as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth. Its characteristics are a perfect analogy for the human condition: even when its roots are in the dirtiest waters, the Lotus produces the most beautiful flower.
New Brunswick adopted the Purple Violet as its official flower in 1936. In many cultures, violets are symbols of modesty, simplicity and fidelity.
Hibiscus Syriacus, national flower of South Korea, The flower's symbolic significance stems from the Korean word mugung, which means "eternity" or "inexhaustible abundance".
The Tricolour represents the Motherland of the Acadians. The yellow star, the Stella Maris, is the symbol of Mary, Acadian national symbol and patron of the mariners. It is set on the blue stripe, meaning to seek the guidance and protection of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Acadians.
Hibiscus flowers most commonly symbolize beauty, purity, and femininity. In central and south America and Asian countries, dried and cured hibiscus flowers are popular tasty snack.
Paisley or paisley pattern is an ornamental textile design using the boteh (Persian) or buta, a teardrop-shaped motif with a curved upper end. It is believed by some that the buta is the combination of a stylized floral spray and a cypress tree: a Zoroastrian symbol of life and eternity.
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Visit the MCAF Diversity Mural

The Diversity Mural is located at 28 Saunders Street, Fredericton NB, at the back of the building facing Wilmot Park.