Lynn Kelly spent a portion of her Thanksgiving at Centennial Park in Moncton, engaging in her newfound retirement pastime. She carefully placed vibrantly painted rocks with Halloween themes in various spots around the park, hoping to brighten someone’s day. Shortly after, one of the rocks disappeared, adding an element of mystery and excitement for Kelly, who may or may not discover its new location.
As a member of the “Happiness Rocks Moncton” Facebook group, consisting of approximately 5,000 participants, Kelly joins others in painting and concealing rocks in the region to bring joy to unsuspecting individuals who stumble upon them. Some of Kelly’s creations have traveled internationally, with reports of rocks making their way to France and Morocco.
Tracey Vail, along with a friend, founded the group in 2017 as a budget-friendly way to spread happiness. Vail shared that the heartwarming stories shared on the group’s Facebook page have been a source of joy for her, noting how the simple act of finding a painted rock has managed to uplift individuals on difficult days.
Despite having hidden thousands of rocks over the years, Vail has only come across a few rocks placed by other members. She cherishes the first rock she found and has now passed on the joy of rock painting to her young son, who paints rocks to distribute to residents at a local nursing home.
Kelly, once a novice in rock painting, now finds it a fulfilling and engaging activity that keeps her occupied. She has hidden numerous rocks not only in Moncton but also in Sackville, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Additionally, she has contributed rocks to “Rocky the snake,” a project initiated by Liam Mackley, a five-year-old from Dieppe, which unexpectedly garnered significant community involvement.
Chris Mackley, Liam’s father, shared how the idea for Rocky the snake originated from Liam’s fascination with a similar project at Irishtown Nature Park. The initiative quickly gained momentum, with an initial few rocks evolving into a collection of 153 rocks by winter. The overwhelming response exceeded expectations, showcasing the widespread appeal of rock painting as a creative and uplifting endeavor.
