Community mural unveiled at site of downtown Bowmanville fire

Clarington, Ontario – Today in downtown Bowmanville, the Municipality of Clarington unveiled a temporary mural wall at the site of the tragic fire of March 6, 2025. The mural is a heartfelt tribute to our community’s #BowmanvilleStrong spirit and features archival photos that honour the unique history of the site.

“The fire left a hole in the heart of downtown Bowmanville, so Team Clarington stepped up to design and build a temporary solution to beautify the streets while honouring the building’s history,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster. “Our Invest Clarington team continues to work with the Bowmanville Business Improvement Area and Clarington Board of Trade to find opportunities to support the businesses impacted by the fire, and we encourage everyone to shop, dine and explore in downtown Bowmanville to support our awesome local community.”

Archival photographs offer a glimpse into the people and places that shaped the streets over the past century, and a large #BowmanvilleStrong graphic nods to the extraordinary community support displayed following the tragic fire. The wall and mural were built, designed, and installed in-house by municipal staff, and the Municipality of Clarington appreciates the financial support from Ontario Power Generation for the material costs of the wall.

A large blue mural on a sidewalk reads 'Bowmanville Strong, Clarington, ON' with a small maple leaf icon. The mural features historical images and descriptions of buildings from 1885 and 1914, including the Bennett House Hotel and Hotel Centralia. In the background, an old brick building with visible wear is seen.

A large Bowmanville Strong graphic nods to the extraordinary community support displayed following the tragic fire.

A view of the mural from the opposite angle showing more archival photos.

Archival photographs offer a glimpse into the people and places that shaped the streets over the past century.

Clarington staff installing the mural.

Built, designed, and installed in-house by municipal staff, the wall was made possible with financial support from Ontario Power Generation for the materials.

The fire claimed one life, displaced more than 30 residents, and forced 10 businesses to close. In response, local fundraisers, donations, and acts of kindness poured in. The Clarington Board of Trade led a business relief effort, raising more than $85,000 from over 60 contributors to help affected businesses recover. The Salvation Army mobilized an overwhelming community response to support displaced residents, raising more than $70,000 in gift cards and essential goods, and providing personalized assistance to help evacuees begin rebuilding their lives. More information is available at www.clarington.net/BowmanvilleFire.

Media inquiries:
Municipality of Clarington
Melissa Westover, Manager of Strategic Communications and Initiatives
mwestover@clarington.net