Port Coquitlam youth who can’t resist leaving a blank wall, well, blank, can express themselves by participating in the second phase of the Shaughnessy Street Underpass Mural Project. A workshop led by artist-in-residence Bert Monterona gives them a chance to create, while also deterring illegal tagging and graffiti.

“When I was younger, I used to tag,” said Monterona. “And they couldn’t stop me because you can’t stop creativity. We need to find other activities to engage these creative people.”

The Port Coquitlam Community Police Station and Leigh Square Community Arts Village involved the community in decorating the west wall of the underpass last year. This year, they want to involve students of local schools in the beautification of the east wall.

The youth will create their pieces during the workshop. After those are complete, Monterona will transfer them to the wall using Mylar. Themes for the mural include diversity, peace and unity.

A community worker in his home country of the Philippines, Monterona said when he moved to Canada, he brought his ideas of peace.

“I use art to educate and inform the community,” he said.

Community Police Manager Jodie McNeice said that the project provides the chance to teach youth about issues surrounding graffiti. It will also discourage illegal tagging.

“People are less likely to tag because they have an appreciation for other people’s work,” said McNeice.

The community hopes to continue this project every year in different sections of the city, according to McNeice. She said that they will also be presenting the project at TAGS (The Anti-Graffiti Symposium) in Calgary this October.

“I haven’t seen anything like it,” said McNeice. “So we hope to present it and encourage other communities to do similar projects.”

Last year about 24 people attended the workshop for the west wall, according to arts and culture coordinator Yvonne Chui, adding a number of them have developed new work and are showing them in group shows at various galleries and community facilities.

The free workshop will be held on June 22 from 1 to 8 p.m. Although targeting youth, the project is open to all ages.