Meet Calgary's Mr. Bubbles, who showers 7th Avenue with soapy suds

For years now, a mysterious man has showered a 7th Avenue C-Trainstation with enormous bubbles blown out of his downtown office, just across the street.

• Have a Calgary Curiosity to share? Email lorna.sandberg@cbc.ca

Jonathan Sunstrum'squirky setup consists of a bowl filled with soapy water, an automatic fan and a bright green and cherry red bubble gun that peeks out of the second-storeywindow at 125 7th Ave. S.W.

"The question in my mind was, how can you take a bleak street and make it neat, for cheap?" he wondered.

"Let's see if we can do a whimsical, off-the-cuff street art gallery that in six months it'll all be done and I can carry on my merry little way," he told himself.

Except this little social experiment has been running for more than four years.

Transforming Calgary's 'worst street'

Sunstrum's efforts to inject a little charm have been remarkably well received by regular pedestrians, touristsand kids of all ages, he said.

From Flames fans leaving the Saddledomewho spontaneously cheer the soapy sudsas they float on down, to wide-eyed tots in strollers who point and smile in wonder, Sunstrum says it's brought a badly needed change to the neighbourhood.

• Row of downtown Calgary heritage buildings has new owner, meaning no more bubbles

"This was Calgary's worst street. Drugs, drinking, fighting, people passed out, puke," he said.

"There is a really inherent beauty that is in any place and space, but without someone actually taking charge of it then I don't think it would have happened," he explained.

"It's part of a quality of life aspect in this city. People should feel comfortable in places and spaces. And if this is something that assists in that endeavor, great."

• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Supermoon viewing is a great excuse for getting outside
• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Jamaican bobsled team back on track after being broken down and nearly broke in Calgary