Alberta Culture and Tourism minister Ricardo Miranda grabbed a brush and joined the community fence mural project of the Cochrane Public Library while visiting Cochrane on Oct.1. 

The library, 405 Railway St., was one of the pop up spots designated across the province for the three-day Alberta Culture Days and it was among the sites he toured during the celebration.

Miranda is no stranger to such painting activities during his visits to Alberta culture centres and chipped in by completing a grassy section of the mural. He also received a tour of the library and spoke briefly.

"Culture can bring us all together and really highlights the diversity that's present and highlights all the things that make this community unique," said Miranda. "It contributes to quality of life and, of course, that is always a positive thing to happen in a community. It makes it vibrant, it makes it come to life and it highlights everything that you have to offer that is unique for your community."

Libaries were just one of the location hosting events for the celebration and it's a natural fit.

"I think everyone gets the opportunity when they can to be creative," says Miranda. "The library is one place where imagination really takes place."

He also speaks highly of the role of libraries in Alberta.

"It always been a place where communities come together and especially in rural Alberta you have them become the hubs of the community. It's fantastic to see."

The fence mural project was made possible by a $1,000 grant from Alberta Culture and Tourism and several youth and adults shared in the painting of Sunday. Artists will be adding the finishing touches before the panels are given a protective coating to ready them for installment along the library fence to further enhance their grounds beautification project. A series of six 4'x4' panels will depict the past, present and future of Cochrane.

It's the tenth year of Alberta Culture Days and it's part of a national celebration which included more than 800 communities from coast-to-coast.