A New Contest Celebrates Canada’s Three “Prettiest
Painted Places.”

By: Katie Hayden and
Jennifer Hughes

Local Colour

Last year, House & Home editor Cobi Ladner “visited” towns from coast to coast when she helped judge the “Prettiest Painted Place in Canada” contest, hosted by the Paint Quality Institute. The contest was open to towns and neighbourhoods across the country that have an abundance of painted buildings. The judges were looking for aesthetically pleasing structures with “outstanding exterior paint characteristics.” Says Cobi, “I was looking for a spirit that makes you think, ‘There’s something special going on here.’ A creativity.”

All three winners, Dawson City, Lunenburg and St. John’s, have “happy palettes,” Cobi says. “They’re having fun with it. It’s a great thing when a whole town works together.”

Dawson City, Yukon
Those of us who live closer to the 49th parallel might assume, correctly, that Dawson City’s vibrant colours are a reaction to the gloom of long, dark winters. “The colours really help brighten the town,” says Kelly Miller of the Klondyke Centennial Society. But the painted buildings also have to do with the town’s colourful history.

Dawson City grew from moose pasture to boomtown after gold was discovered in 1896. By 1898, it was known as the “Paris of the North” and was the largest town west of Winnipeg. In places, grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings lined the dirt streets; in other spots, low, wooden buildings are dressed up with elaborate false fronts.

Slowly, the town’s prosperity waned, but many of the original buildings stayed intact. In 1999, the town applied for National Historic District designation. In its core, the streets are flanked by boardwalks, and vintage wooden buildings are accented with bright paint. “The combinations are unexpected,” Cobi says, For example, there’s a turquoise house you’d expect to see in the Caribbean. It takes you by surprise.—K.H.

Lunenburg, N.S.
Often, towns with abundant, well-preserved heritage buildings have restrictive codes that dictate a limited scope of paint colours for exteriors. But not Lunenburg: the charming seaside fishing town embraces colour in every shade imaginable.

In 1992, Old Town Lunenburg, comprising 400 buildings, was declared a National Historic District, and in 1995 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its remarkable level of preservation. Ninety-five percent of the town’s buildings are still of original wood construction, and therein lies Lunenburg’s attraction—and its paintability.

The townspeople are eager to maintain the integrity of the Old Town’s heritage buildings, and, when it’s time to repaint, many head to local museums and galleries to seek historical photographs of their homes. But they are not enslaved by the past. Paint is not irreversible, points out Lunenburg town manager and clerk Bea Renton. It’s easy to change, so there’s no need for restrictive colour codes. Much of the beauty in Lunenburg’s palette lies in its “anything goes” variety, as seen on homes and buildings painted shades of apple green, lavender, pink and brilliant red. “The palettes aren’t just about being ‘correct’,” notes Cobi. “They’re about personal expression, and they make a big impact.” Renton agrees: ‘We want people to be free to express their creativity.”—J.H.

St. John’s, Nfld.
Some streets in historic downtown St. John’s are so colourful that “looking down a street is like looking at a paint chart,” says Phonse Miller, chairman of the Downtown Development Commission. The brightly painted rowhouses, set on steep, hilly streets create a “memory of the place you won’t soon forget,” says Cobi.

The capital of Newfoundland and Labrador boasts several superlatives: it’s the oldest port city and the easternmost city in North America, and is often called “Canada’s Weather Capital” for its frequent and unpredictable changes. The rainy, foggy weather is often cited as a reason for the vibrant palette that characterizes so much of the city. Other theories about the origins of the unique colours abound. It has been said that in the early days of the region’s settlement, a person’s home would be painted the same colour as his fishing boat. Another theory claims that homes were painted brightly as a beacon for ships—and so fisherman could recognize their homes from the harbour. Today, despite the downtown core being a heritage conservation area with building codes in place, there are no colour restrictions for exteriors. “You can paint your house whatever colour you like!” says Miller.

Despite its population of 110,000, a great sense of community seems evident here. “People obviously take a lot of pride in their homes,” Cobi says. “I admire the bold, expressive use of colour on the unique architecture.”—J.H.

Exterior Painting Tips

1. Prepare the surface
• Remove mildew with one part bleach to three parts water
• Power-wash with water or scrub with detergent and water
• Scrape and sand thoroughly to remove chipping paint
• Prime bare spots (or entire area for best finish)
2. Use the right tools
• High-quality tools and brushes give a smoother, even finish
• Use synthetic-bristle brushes dampened with water for latex paints, natural bristles dampened with paint thinner for alkyd
• Make sure brush bristles are packed together, tapering into the centre
3. Watch the weather
• Paint only when the temperature is between 15°C and 29°C (and will stay that way for at least 36 hours afterward)
• Paint when there is little wind and don’t paint in direct sunlight (paint can dry too fast, leaving too little time to rebrush or touch up the surface)
• After a rain, allow a surface to dry 24 hours before painting
4. Use the right paint:
   • Select a paint designed for your specific purpose and surface (a high-quality acrylic latex is best for most exteriors)
   • Don’t use an interior paint outside

Tips courtesy of the Paint Quality Institute

Accompanying graphics