One of the proposed Behind the Mask murals. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

Public Outcry

Vernon councillor defends stance opposing Behind the Mask murals

Aug 19, 2022 | 11:15 AM

Scott Anderson is standing by his claim that public consultation has not been prioritized in the Behind the Mask mural proposal.

The Vernon city councillor opposed the original motion in May requesting an endorsement and $33,000 for the project that would see images of people wearing masks to reflect their struggles with mental health on city-owned and private buildings.

His claim was that the public was not consulted on the matter prior to the ask in front of Vernon City Council.

In a statement to the media, Anderson said the public instantly began responding to the proposed project once published on social media, and that there was an overwhelmingly negative response online, followed by a petition against the murals being launched and council receiving numerous letters of opposition from the public.

Anderson claims that he’s heard he is to blame for the backlash because he opposed the endorsement based on a lack of public engagement and posted his reasoning on social media.

Charger rollout

Phased approach planned for EV chargers at Vernon ALC

22h ago

Secondary Dwellings

Coldstream considering more housing on agricultural lands

Apr 24, 2026

Wildfire Risks

Okanagan's Fire Danger Rating already up to Moderate

Apr 23, 2026

However, in his recent statement, he said, “if I were so persuasive that I could brainwash oodles of people into disliking art this vigorously, I’d be prime minister by now. Especially since I never once offered a public opinion on the quality of the art or its subject matter. I still haven’t to this day. All I did is bring the issue itself to the public. In my opinion that should have been done months ago. The idea that opposition to the murals occurred because a councilor showed the murals to the public sans comment is ludicrous and delusional.”

Vernon city council did approve the request initially, but rescinded the motion after receiving all the public feedback.

The Vernon Public Art Gallery was then tasked with holding public consultations, which it did in the form on an in-person, two-week campaign to speak with people about the pieces and have attendees fill out a survey.

The campaign saw just 353 people attend, with 65 per cent saying they approved or strongly approved of the murals.

Anderson said this sample size was minimal and not randomized, producing statistically problematic results.

He noted that the findings are in complete contrast of the social media response and the petition against the project, which has received over 4,160 signatures.

A petition supporting the murals also exists but only has 1,729 signatures, which Anderson said suggests that 71 respondents are against the murals.

Anderson did concede in his statement that the petitions cannot be considered completely reflective of the public opinion, saying people who signed onto the online petitions “may be living in Peru for all we know.”

However, he did state that the comments on local Vernon community forums and social media pages are reflective of public opinion, as are the numerous letters the city has received on the matter.

“Council has received more emails on this issue than on any other in my eight years in this office. By far. A contentious issue in the past might, in my experience, generate 10 to 25 organic emails. The closure of Kalamalka Road last term caused something of an uproar and generated around 75 constituent emails, as I recall,” wrote Anderson.

“This mural issue generated almost 160 organic emails to council members, of which over 125, or almost 80 per cent, are against the murals.”

He noted that there were some form letters, but most were original and voiced concerns ranging to impacts on visitors and tourism to the fear the images would trigger someone else’s anxiety or mental illness.

The city has also received 37 letters in support of the murals, but Anderson said a majority of those came in the first week after the story broke, four were identical form letters and another 10 were modified form letters.

Anderson said he, along with the other city councillors, were elected to represent the people, and that significant public buy-in should be achieved before endorsing any potentially controversial public art.

“I believe it is unreasonable to expect council to endorse and spend taxpayer money on a project that seems to me to face clearly overwhelming public opposition.”

Anderson added that this issue has brought forward the need for a public art policy in Vernon, which was dissolved when the committee overseeing public art disbanded in 2009.

Vernon city council will debate the request for endorsing the Behind the Mask mural project at the next regular meeting in September.

The proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installment at the washroom on Coldstream Avenue in Vernon. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)

The proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installment at the washroom building at Civic Memorial Park in Vernon. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)

One of the proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installments at the downtown parkade in Vernon. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)

The proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installment at the Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services building in Vernon. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)

One of the proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installments Boseman Accounting in Vernon. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)

One of the proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installments at Boseman Accounting in Vernon. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)

The proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installment at the Turning Points Collaborative Society in Vernon. (Submitted photo/Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)