By Katie Ryan
Residents strolling around Bud Miller Park now have a new change of scenery to admire.

Located on the southwest wall of the Leisure Centre is the new 2010 Torch Relay Legacy artwork, “Ekecheiria,” unveiled last week to celebrate the Olympic flame’s cross-country trek.
“I know it’s a mouthful, but it’s kind of fun to say,” said the city’s artist-in-residence Laura Hale of Ekecheiria to the crowd gathered Thursday evening in Bud Miller Park.
The artwork was created by Hale, funded by a Saskatchewan grant that was awarded to each Olympic Torch Relay Celebration Community to commemorate both the Olympics and Lloydminster, which hosted the Olympic Torch en route to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics on Jan. 12.
Describing Ekecheiria, Hale said the piece represents the period of sacred truce for the duration of the ancient Olympic Games, that promoted the commitment to building a peaceful world through sport and the spirit of the Border City.
“For me when I moved to Lloydminster to see these grand pillars in the air, they represented power and strength and growth –  I think those are all characteristics of the community of Lloydminster,” said Hale, adding she used the Olympic ring colours to represent all of the nations that united during the time of Ekecheiria.
“Using these colours I created flowing lines of motion that for me represented the strength, beauty, the grace and the movement of athletes and athletics. I chose to weave them through the border markers symbolizing and celebrating a border as a way to unite a community, whether it’s Saskatchewan and Alberta, or nations across the world and the freedom we have to move in a safe and peaceful environment.”
The Olympic Torch Relay Celebration Community committee approached Hale to craft the artwork, which Hale admits was a welcome challenge.
“With public art, not everybody’s going to like it, but once you know the background and the reasons that I chose what I chose, then I think it kind of gives a little bit of insight for the people to understand,” she said.
“This will remind us all the time of Jan. 12,” said City Councillor and OTRCC committee chair Larry Sauer. “The legacy reminds of us of our community spirit and national spirit and unity. Sometimes, as I had mentioned before, we have to think outside the box and look outside our borders and come together as a nation. Certainly the Olympics did that for Canadians.”
Hale said she invites the community to take ownership of the artwork and to continue to celebrate both the spirit of the Olympics and the Border City. For Hale, installing Ekecheiria in Bud Miller Park – where her art studio is located – was her first choice for the artwork’s future home.
“I think of it as an empty canvas ready for a piece of art,” said Hale of the Leisure Centre.
“I was really excited when (city council) approved it.  Also, when I walk through here at night there is a beautiful reflection off the lake, kind of a wave-like pattern up on to this wall and I think it’s a perfect location. I think it will increase tourism and also just people of Lloydminster walking through the park – getting people more active which is probably a good thing to do.
“I hope it becomes a destination point for people to bring friends and family and visitors.”
Mayor Jeff Mulligan agreed with the location as well, adding there is more work to be done in the park.
“There is a lot more we are going to do in the park as you all know. I think this is a real good, strong focal point for the work that we are going to do and the way we are going to come together to build a community and a park,” he said.