Submitted by:
Henry Barkowski,
Mayor, Town of Minitonas

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Gay Darroch.

Although she did not live in Minitonas, she has left a legacy in our community.



In the fall of 2003, Gay was commissioned to painted the sunflower and the “Welcome to Minitonas” message on the rocks in the Favel park., situated on the west side of the East Favel River at the bridge, it welcomes those coming to Minitonas from the west on Tent Town Trail or second Avenue.

Gay had already been stricken by cancer then and although in remission, tired quickly, She persevered and this makes the art work extra special as Gay went the extra mile to get it done

As a tribute to Gay Darroch, Jerry Marek, Danny Trofimchuk, Christine Marek-Matejka, Berneice Reich, Paul Freed, Ursula Taylor and all the great artists of our Valley that bless us with their beautiful work, I quote Rudyard Kipling’s poem

When Earth’s Last Picture Is Painted
When Earth’s last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it — lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew.
And those that were good shall be happy; they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets’ hair.
They shall find real saints to draw from — Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all!
And only The Master shall praise us, and only The Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They are!