Alex Trebek to be memorialized in mural on late Jeopardy! host's Sudbury high school

Alex Trebek's Sudbury roots will be celebrated at his high school alma mater in the form of a giant mural being painted by a renowned Montrealartist on an outside wall of the building.

The late, longtime Jeopardy!host attended Sudbury Secondary School (then called Sudbury High) in northern Ontario inthe 1950s before embarking on a broadcasting career, starting with the CBC.

Kevin Ledoknown for his murals of Leonard Cohen in Montreal, Rosa Parks in Detroitand David Suzuki in Torontois expected to have the 10m x 18m (35x60 ft) Trebek mural completed Aug. 20.

It'll be one of the highlights of Up Here!, anurban art festival known for featuring large, outdoor murals by international artists.

Trebek died Nov.8, 2020, in Los Angeles after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019. His passing prompteda string of tributes. Jeopardy! has continued with a series of guest hosts, withhis replacements announced earlier this week.

In 2019, Sudbury Secondary School sentTrebek an honorary graduation diploma, to which he jokingly replied,"I plan to use it to lobby for a raise in salary."

Ledo said hismural's location isa fitting tribute to the Canadian-born celebrity.

"This is going to be a really special piece on a really special wall, and to have it go up facing the Sudbury Public Library a place of knowledge, curiosityand everything Trebek stood for."

Christian Pelletier, the festival's co-founder, said Trebek has always held a special place in Sudbury's arts scene.

"He's kind of been the unofficial mascot of all our projects."

Pelletier saidthe group even considered, jokingly, to change the name of the Up Here!to Trebek Fest in 2016.