by Sharon Krushel, Peace River, AB
Since moving up to Peace River in 1982, I’ve delighted in driving our northern highways. On my way home on Highway 49, I smile in anticipation as I descend into the Little Smoky River valley because I know I’ll soon be welcomed by the Canada flag granary. Deep sigh. I’m almost home.
I often pull over to photograph the beloved landmark, whether surrounded by snow, sprouting crops, or the back-lit brilliant yellow of canola in full bloom. The prairie wind refreshes my breath, the granary refreshes my good will and joy of living here, and my curiosity ponders how this patriotic painting came to be.
In 2015, I designed the O Canada card, still wondering…
The Story
After much sleuthing, a friend of the current owners, Daniel and Christine Aubin, put me in touch with Joseph Johnson, who told me the whole story…
On February 15, 1965, after much collaboration and design deliberation, the National Flag of Canada replaced the Union Jack/Canadian Red Ensign at an old-flag-lowering, new-flag-raising ceremony in Ottawa with great applause and inspiring speeches.
Meanwhile, in Alberta, Joseph Johnson built this granary and painted it red.
In 1978, his son, Gilbert, decided to paint it white. When Gilbert’s 15-year-old brother, Marcel, came home from school, there was still a 10-foot strip of red on the front. Marcel said, “Instead of painting the rest of it white, we could paint the Canadian Flag on it.” And he did! They repainted it about a decade later.
In the near 50 years since, the granary has caught the attention of countless travellers on their journey north.
“It makes me laugh to see the image on all kinds of stuff, including a tissue box! We saw a picture displayed in the Grande Prairie Dream Home one year. And my brother saw it on a DōnaBōna Card at the rest stop near Valleyview and bought a bunch of them.”
Daniel and Christine Aubin bought the land in 2010. In 2019, Daniel’s parents, Jules and Cecile Aubin, repainted it for the Centennial in Falher. Jules says, “We name all of the quarters according to who owned it before, but that half section is called, ‘The Flag.’ There is a family of foxes that have been there for years. The pups come out and play around every spring.”
The “O Canada!” Exhibit
In 2017, the Peace River Art Club chose the theme, “O Canada!”for our biannual exhibit at the Peace River Municipal Library. I (Sharon) printed one of my photos of the granary and framed it in barn wood because the was hosting a
Canvas print of Sharon Krushel’s photo of the Canada Flag granary
The Story of the “Coming Home” Painting
Chrystia Freeland, who grew up in Peace River, requested a painting of my photo for her office in Ottawa to remind her of home. I ordered a custom 43”x 48” stretched blank canvas and commissioned Shannon Brown as the artist.
Sharon loaned Chrystia Freeland the painting, with a little story sign, to share the charm of the Peace Country in Ottawa.
Shannon Brown signing the painting
“It was an honour to be chosen to paint such an iconic image,” said Brown. “I understand why it’s called Coming Home. A lot of people in the north see it that way.”
For eight years, Shannon’s painting portrayed the colourful charm of the Peace Region in Freeland’s office in Ottawa until Chrystia resigned to work for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Advisor on Economic Development of Ukraine.
Coming Home painting in Chrystia Freeland’s office in Ottawa
Now, the Coming Home painting has come home to Peace River!
Silent Auction
As a fundraiser for the Peace River Art Club, the Coming Home painting’s starting bid was $1,500. As of October 26, the bid is $5,000!
The ART HUB in Peace River is open Thursday to Saturday from 1pm to 5pm (peacearthub.ca). The painting will be awarded to the highest bidder at the end of our ART GALA on October 30, 2026.
I have just ordered a 16″x18″ canvas print of the painting to present to Marcel Johnson, the original granary artist!
Recently, an Australian firefighter purchased a print of Shannon’s painting to take home as a souvenir of his time fighting fires in the Peace Country. If you would like a print of the painting, contact me at kr*****@*ac.com.
About the Artist
Shannon Brown moved to Peace River at age 13. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and a B.Ed. from Concordia in Edmonton. She was a member of the Peace River Art Club, worked at Java Domain, and, in 2017, she was awarded the contract from the Town of Peace River to paint a mural on the south wall of Boston Pizza on Main Street.
Shannon Brown mural, south wall, Boston Pizza, Peace River, AB
Shannon’s art helps us see the unique beauty of our own part of the world.
“It was fun! I’m such an extrovert, and what I love about doing public art, is that you get to talk to people in the community, and it feels more like a collaboration,” said Brown. “Anything I can do for my hometown feels good.”
Shannon also painted for Su Casa, Wet Willy’s Wand Wash, and La Bonita Esthetics. Today, she paints murals in Edmonton and teaches art at Allendale Junior High.
O Canada! … The true north, strong and free!
My husband says, “If you were born in Canada, you already won the lottery.”
We face many challenges as such a big diverse country,
but as a happy Canuk, I’m inclined to agree.
And I still smile every time I see this granary!
God bless our farmers
and keep us gloriously united and free!