Students embraced a teacher's suggestion to paint Canada's soldiers who died in Afghanistan.

By Heather Colpitts, Langley Advance 

Images of the student paintings were shown at a special ceremony June 17.

Photograph by: Heather Colpitts, Langley Advance

Students at Langley Fine Arts School have had a lesson in government red tape which turned out to be a good thing.

They were trying to connect with families of soldiers they had painted in a project created by teacher Peter Sarganis. But privacy issues and red tape prevented them from giving the families the portraits of their loved ones.

Langley MP Mark Warawa and his staff got involved at the beginning of this year and the end result is that the three dozen portraits will now be made part of the permanent collection at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

Sarganis recalls being divided over whether to have the students do the commemoration project, but they liked the idea.

The students painted the portraits of men and women sometimes not much older than themselves.

The soldiers had died betwen November 2008 and November 2009.

Students didn't just do the pictures. They researched their soldiers and in some cases were in contact with the families, giving the students a deeper understanding of the works and the war.
"Once in a while you tap into an idea that is so much bigger than you expect," Sarganis said.

When Langley's Garrett Chidley died in December 2009, Sarganis stayed up until 5 a.m. to finish a special portrait of Chidley in his combat gear so it would be ready for his funeral.
The works were exhibited in late 2009 and garnered national attention.

Since this nation started fighting in Afghanistan, 156 Canadian soldiers have died.

"I know first hand that your support provides real motivation and inspiration to our troops," said Warawa, when reading a letter from Foreign Affairs Minister Peter McKay, in charge of Canada's military.

For student Sarah Doerkson, painting John Curwin and speaking to his family gave her a deeper appreciation for the impact of war. He arrived in theatre Dec. 4, 2008 and died Dec. 13, 2008.
Curwin had always wanted to be a soldier and the 26-year-old loved being a husband and dad.

Curwin's family was so moved by the students' art that his mother, Danita, recorded a message that was played at a special ceremony June 17, when the Canadian War Museum officially received the works.

She said the student work captured the spirit of soldiers like her son.

"I am really proud and very happy about where those pictures are going," Danita said.

The project has had a lasting impact on the students.

"This project mades us aware that there are people who dedicate their lives to others," said student Kyuri Lee.