Four years ago, artist Debbie Milner-Lively stood in the heart of downtown Kamloops, surrounded by character homes marked for removal or relocation to make way for the future City Gardens development. Guided by Ron Fawcett, who walked with her through the neighbourhood and shared its history and the vision for its transformation, Debbie began a project, commissioned by Kelson Group, that would evolve into something deeply personal, emotional, and enduring.
This month, Debbie is presenting In Remembrance of the Neighbourhood, a solo exhibit at the Old Courthouse Gallery, featuring 20 large-scale paintings that capture the essence and architecture of the character homes that once lined Nicola and Battle streets. From full-house portraits to expressive street scenes, her work celebrates memory and place, not just for her but for the community.
“I’ve been working on this project for four years, but my connection with Ron and his commissions goes back nearly a decade,” Debbie shared. “This has been an amazing journey, very gratifying, and deeply meaningful.”
While the old houses no longer stand, their stories live through her art. Many of the homes she painted were in disrepair at the time she documented them, aged, weathered, and showing the effects of time. But through her painter’s lens, Debbie breathed new life into them, using bold colours, palette knife techniques, and artistic freedom to reimagine their former beauty.
“The homes were so worn down, but as an artist, I could take liberties, enhance the colours, bring them back to life. It reminded me that even a commission can be expressive,” shared Debbie. “As I painted, I was always thinking about the people who lived there. One woman even sent me a childhood photo of herself sitting on the steps of the home her great-grandfather built. It’s those kinds of stories that stayed with me.”
The exhibit is also an opportunity for former residents, neighbours, and the broader public to reconnect with these iconic homes before the collection becomes part of the permanent art display at the City Gardens development. The original paintings will be featured in all the 6 buildings in this complex. towers, with full size reproductions placed in choice locations throughout to remind residents and visitors of the past of this neighbourhood. The paintings will also be used in the forthcoming book “A Kamloops Neighbourhood Remembered” by Andrew Yarmie.
“Our family has always loved arts and culture, and we’ve been supporters of local artists like Debbie,” noted Ron Fawcett, Executive Director and Founder of Kelson Group. “We loved the look of the old houses – their unique character and history – and wanted to make sure we were able to capture that as a keepsake for the community for generations. We are so proud to work with Debbie and are constantly amazed at her artistic ability and talent. I hope everyone can make the time to come and visit her exhibit.”
Debbie’s work does more than preserve architecture; it preserves feeling. The homes she painted weren’t just physical structures; they were chapters in people’s lives. The public has already responded with warmth and nostalgia, reaching out to Debbie with personal stories and memories.
“I’m not doing this show for recognition. I want people to see what Kelson Group did to honour this neighbourhood. They respected these homes enough to have them remembered in art,” said Debbie.
The show, In Remembrance of the Neighbourhood, opened to the public on June 5, with an official opening event taking place on June 14 at the Old Courthouse Gallery. The exhibit features the complete series of paintings, along with a few additional Kamloops street scenes, and offers visitors the opportunity to meet the artist. Debbie plans to be present throughout the exhibit to speak with attendees, share insights into her process, and reflect on how the journey has shaped her. The show will run until June 26.
“After living in Kamloops for over 30 years, this project deepened my connection to our city’s history. I’ve always loved downtown, but now I see it with so much more appreciation,” she added.
Debbie’s exhibit offers more than an artistic experience; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the past, a bridge to the future, and a reminder that stories, like homes, can be rebuilt and remembered in powerful ways.
