Queen’s Bush Settlement Graffiti Mural
Earthscape Play, 7215 Wellington Rd 86, Wallenstein, ON N0B 2S0
Self-Guided Tour
Discover local Black pioneer history at your own pace across Waterloo and Wellington counties.
Queen’s Bush Explorer
Learn about the settlers who cleared the land to build homes, churches and schools.
“The Song Continues”
Kalkidan Assefa (DRPN Soul) – Lead Artist
Simone Patricia – Assistant Artist
Medium: Exterior Latex and Spray Paint
Year: 2026
Inspired by the legacy of the Queen’s Bush Settlement, “The Song Continues” is a mural about hope, resilience, collective memory, and cultural continuity.
Through research, community input, and collaboration with the QBS Mural Advisory Committee, I collected stories from QBS descendants, both past and living, as well as local history orally passed down through generations.
During this research, the connection to music kept coming up; whether it was through the songs of Freedom Seekers using the night sky as a guide to the north, the local Mennonite community’s recollection of songs sung by the Settlers, or the living descendants such as Tracy Lee Johnson, who continues this historical tradition through her powerful voice. Music is a form of healing, and I wanted this mural to feel hopeful and forward-looking while still preserving a legacy from the past.
I used hands throughout the mural to tie the composition together and tell stories through imagery connected to the past and present. The central focal point is the two women from the present era, singing joyfully together with hands clapping to the rhythm. The mural is framed on the left by another large set of hands raised to the sky in praise or deference, and on the right by a pair of working hands chopping wood and tilling the land—activities central to daily life and survival. There are also the hands of an elder or ancestor on the shoulder of a boy reading by lamplight in the left corner.
Through their gestures, these hands symbolize hope, faith, strength, resilience, and multigenerational aspiration to thrive. I also included the White Pine and fiddleheads to acknowledge the Indigenous land and the connection between Black and Indigenous communities.
“The Song Continues” implies that preserving these legacies is not a singular act. It takes community working in harmony and every generation adding their own voice to the larger chorus that keeps the stories from being forgotten.
Queen’s Bush Settlement Mural Reveal Event Recap
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, Hearts Open for Everyone (HOPE) proudly unveiled “The Song Continues.”
Located at Earthscape Play in Wallenstein, Ontario, this public artwork restores early Black settler history to the local landscape. As a result, it transforms archival records into a permanent destination for education, reflection, and community connection.
Highlights from the Unveiling Gathering
The event brought together historians, local leaders, community members, and descendants of the original settlement. Together, we celebrated a memorable day rooted in honour and memory.
Dignitaries & Government Remarks:
First, we welcomed local elected officials who spoke about the cultural importance of the Queen’s Bush Settlement:
- Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington
- Tim Louis, MP for Kitchener-Conestoga
- Sandy Shantz, Mayor of Woolwich Township
Ceremonial Leadership & Music:
Next, MC Maedith Radlein hosted the stage program, while DJ Angel P (Donnique Williams) provided music throughout the day. Attendees also enjoyed live performances by QBS descendants Tracy Lee Johnson and Diana Braithwaite. Musicians Chris Whiteley and Joy in the City also performed. Later on, community members Marcia Smellie, Millicent Gordon, and Denise Francis shared inspiring remarks.
Honouring Visiting & Local Descendants:
Most importantly, several descendants travelled long distances to attend the event. For example, visiting descendants included Keith Bell from Sacramento, Robin Moore from Chicago, and Teajai Travis from Windsor. Local area descendants joined us, including Darlene Jones (Mallot family), Karen Burke, Corey Martin, and Georgina Cole nee Wilson (Brown family) and her daughter Debbie Rudolph.
Food and Activities:
Visitors had access to Earthscape Play’s test pit to try out their playground structures, and relax at their Sheeps Pen. They also had the opportunity to pick up commemorative stickers and colouring sheets featuring elements of the mural’s artwork, engaging younger learners in the story of the Queen’s Bush.
We also had Irie Myrie food truck for a taste of the Caribbean, and MegaCone Creamery ice cream truck for a sweet treat.
Visit the Mural & Share Your Experience
Visitors are welcome to view “The Song Continues” at Earthscape Play in Wallenstein, ON. Stand before the wall, reflect on the history, and explore the interactive digital tools to deepen your journey.
If you attended the event or have visited the site, please take a moment to fill out our visitor survey to help us measure community impact and support future heritage projects.
Photos from the Event
Photo credit: Taijasa Jordan, Geoff Martin, Tracy Lee Johnson, and Amber Buchanan
Unveiling the Legacy – Workshop Recap
Photography by: Taijasa Jordan
Community Input – Workshop Recap
Photography by: Taijasa Jordan
In the News
CBC – ‘Make history visible’: Mural to honour Black community of Queen’s Bush Settlement
Observer – Mural to commemorate Queen’s Bush history
Ontario Heritage Trust – The Queen’s Bush Settlement, 1820-1867
The Narwhal – Bogs, bugs, freedom and loss: walking alongside Ontario’s early Black settlers
The Caribbean Camera – Mural Project Revives Queen’s Bush Black History
Wellington Advertiser – Queen’s Bush settlement mural to be unveiled Aug. 15
Introducing Our Artist
DRPN SOUL aka Kalkidan Assefa (b. 1982, Addis Abeba) is an Ethiopian-born artist, muralist, and art-based educator whose work bridges street culture, public art, and visual storytelling. With a background in Fine Arts and roots in the grassroots hip hop community dating back to the late 90’s, he has built a professional practice over the past 15 years crafting impactful, public-facing artwork that engages diverse communities through a collaborative approach.
For more info, please visit www.drippinsoul.com or IG @drippin_soul
About the Project
HOPE (Hearts Open for Everyone), in partnership with Earthscape and the Queen’s Bush Settlement (QBS) Mural Advisory Committee, is excited to move forward with this public mural project honouring one of Ontario’s earliest Black communities. With our artist now commissioned, we’re entering an inspiring next phase of bringing this story to life.
The mural will serve as both a cultural landmark and an educational tool, highlighting the resilience, achievements, and legacy of QBS settlers and their descendants. The design will incorporate authentic stories, symbols, and experiences, informed by consultation with local historians, descendants, and community members.
Organizations: Earthscape & HOPE (Hearts Open for Everyone)
Mural Location: Earthscape Play, 7215 Wellington Rd 86, Wallenstein, ON N0B 2S0
Medium: Spray paint/graffiti on steel container-style buildings
Project Timeline
- March – June 2026: Mural design and execution on the building surface
- August 2026: Public unveiling and celebration
Site & Accessibility
- The mural will be spray-painted on a large metal building at Earthscape Play (7215 Wellington Rd 86, Wallenstein, ON), wrapping from the front to the right side, so it is clearly visible from the street as you enter Wallenstein.
- An interpretive bench will be installed in front of the mural, providing a space for visitors to sit and reflect on the history of the Queen’s Bush Settlement.
- Parking will be available adjacent to the mural for easy access.
- The mural area features accessible pathways and is wheelchair-friendly, ensuring inclusive participation.
- Portable, accessible washrooms will be provided on-site for the mural reveal event to ensure visitor convenience.
Site Images
While You’re In Town…
While your journey begins at the mural, the Elmira and Wallenstein area features a diverse selection of local points of interest, dining, and seasonal activities. Be sure to plan extra time in your itinerary to immerse yourself in our local heritage and explore these remarkable neighbouring communities!
Learn more:
Lions Ring Trail
Rural Roots Brewing Company
Kate’s Place Accessible Playground
MCC Thrift and Gift
Living Waters Book and Toy Store
Local Renaissance Coffee Shop
Yatton Home Baking
Elmira Farmer’s Market
Kitchen Kuttings
Shuh Orchards
Never Enough Thyme
Bonnie Lou’s Cafe
QBS Mural Advisory Committee
- AmyBeth Brubacher, Community Advisor, with expertise in Mennonite Heritage
- Terre Chartrand, Indigenous Interdisciplinary Artist, Cultural Leader, and Youth Mentor
- Tracy Johnson, Vocal Artist, Educator, and Cultural Storyteller, fifth-generation Black Canadian with ancestral roots in Queen’s Bush Settlement
- Geoff Martin, Writer and Editor with Mennonite family connections to the mural site in the Queen’s Bush Settlement
- Peggy Plet, Historian, Community Researcher, a third‑generation descendant of a family impacted by slavery with ancestral roots in Suriname, South America
- Karen Smart, Researcher, Mapleton Historical Society
Youth Ambassador
Daelia Blackburn
Contact
For QBS Mural Advisory Committee contact information, email us at info@heartsopenforeveryone.ca.
Media Kit assets are available here.
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