Robin Burgesse | Eyes on the Streets

Over the past thirty years the city of Oshawa has added murals to many of its downtown buildings. Most of the murals celebrate the city in one way or another. Several focus on past events and the McLaughlin family appears a number of times. In the early years of the 20th century, the McLaughlin family turned their Oshawa-based carriage manufacturing business into the McLaughlin Motor Car Company. It eventually became part of General Motors.

Back in 2024 the city had a debate as to whether or not to refurbish and upgrade the 14 or 15 older murals that had been painted in the 1990s, or to just paint over them. Since they are still here, the paint over proponents must have lost.

below: “Oshawa 1935” by Dan and Peter Sawatzky

part of a mural by Dan and Peter Sawatzky in downtown Oshawa, image showing the city as it was in 1935

below: “Recreation by the Lake” by Tony Johnson, 1997 – relaxing on the waterfront at the foot of Simcoe Street. Barnhart’s Pavillion is in the background – this is where you’d go to dance on a Friday night. The round thing in the middle? That’s the Ocean Wave!

people sitting on the beach, Barnharts dance pavillion, in a mural by Tony Johnson

behind a fence, people sitting on the beach, Barnharts dance pavillion, in a mural by Tony Johnson

below: On the walls of the bandshell in Memorial Park there is a mural by David Yeatman that showcases Northern Dancer, a famous thoroughbred racing horse who was born and raised on Windfields Farm in Oshawa.

on the exterior of the bandshell in memorial park, mural by David Yeatman showing E. P. Taylor and the Windfelds Farm in Oshawa where famous racing thoroughbred horse Northern Dancer was born

mural by David Yeatman showing E. P. Taylor and the Windfelds Farm in Oshawa where famous racing thoroughbred horse Northern Dancer was born

below: Although the first Windfields Farm was in Toronto (on Bayview Ave), a second was established in Oshawa in 1950 when E.P. Taylor bought 1500 acres from the McLaughlin family. It was here that Northern Dancer (1961-1990) was born, and where he is buried. in 1964, he became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. On April 16, 2018, Northern Dancer’s grave became an official heritage site.

below: These four panels depict some of the history of the Ontario Regiment starting with its formation in 1866. The other panels memorialize various battles and conflicts that they have been involved in since then. These panels also stand in Memorial Park and were painted by John Hood

These four panels depict some of the history of the Ontario Regiment starting with its formation in 1866. The other panels memorialize various battles and conflicts that they have been involved in since then. These panels also stand in Memorial Park and were painted by John Hood

below: Borsberry Music Hall, by Brian Romagnoli

part of borsberry music hall mural in oshawa with images of a flute, bust of Beethoven, harp, ,two glasses of red wine, two red roses, violin, conductor, top hat, piano keys, and stage curtain

part of borsberry music hall mural in oshawa with images of a french horn, a clarinet, a fan, sheet music, a violin, and a flute, also a well dressed couple in the background coming down a curved staircase

below: Building on a strong foundation in ‘Oshawa’s Development (Historical Industry and Development)’ by Robin Burgesse. Three local businesses are shown – Warren Mills, Williams Piano Factory, and the McLaughlin Carriage Company

mural in oshawa with text Building on a strong foundation, by Robin Burgesse. Three local businesses are shown - Warren Mills, Williams Piano Factory, and the McLaughlin Carriage Company

below: The Oshawa Generals was a Major Junior League hockey team that was formed back in 1937. Bobby Orr is probably the most famous player but Billy Taylor,Terry O’Reilly, and Eric Lindros are also pictured in this mural (Paul Ygartua, 1997)

mural by Paul Ygartua showing famous hockey players that once played for the Oshawa Generals junior team, including Bobby Orr, Eric Lindros,

below: ‘Turning the Wheel’ by Dani Crosby commemorates the John Bolase Warren Flour Mill that used to sit on this site. (tore down a mill to put up a parking lot?!?). This large gristmill was built in 1837 and demolished in 1981.

below: Instead of looking back at the past, this mural by Bruno Smoky (Clandestinos) focuses on the future, a green future (including electric vehicles).

mural by Bruno Smoky, green future energy, electric vehicles, windmills

below: This long horizontal mural on the side of Wall ‘N Floor Decor is “Driving Force” by Rudolf Stussi (1996). It illustrates the evolution of the automobile starting with the Oshawa Carriage Works.

below: Another history mural that references the Oshawa Carriage Works is “Full Steam Ahead” by Gus Froese, 1995. The title is shown as a headline in The Oshawa Daily Reformer newspaper.

below: Another artwork that celebrates the automotive industry is one that consists of 5 panels by artist John Hood. Here are two of them – crash test dummies, and a nod to the people who helped develop and refine engine technology

crash test dummies, in mural by John Hood

man working on a car engine, mural by John Hood

below: “Camp X” by Tony Johnson (2001). It tells the story of a secret Special Training School 103 that opened in 1941. It was here that 500 “secret agents” were taught hand-to-hand combat, interrogation techniques, psychological warfare, explosives training, espionage, sabotage, and how to survive behind enemy lines.

below: The perils of painting murals beside parking lots! A hummingbird is front and center in this bright and cheerful mural, “Stop and Smell the Flowers”.