Squamish may finally be getting a new entrance sign.
The former sign, which was erected in 2002 along Highway 99, was destroyed in a car accident in 2012.
In the three years since the sign was knocked out, councils have talked about replacing it. A district task force looked at replacing the sign, but the recommenda-tion was to wait until the rebranding.
“It was determined that the sign should be part of a comprehensive wayfinding system that not only points out downtown, but clearly directs people to all our points of interest and recreation amenities, and that is branded consistently with other signage throughout the community,” said Christina Moore, communications manager for the District of Squamish.
Now that the “Hardwired for Adventure” branding exercise is complete, the district can move towards a new sign and wayfinding project, according to Moore.
Funds for both projects will be drawn from accumulated surplus, not from new tax dollars, Moore said.
“The wayfinding project is budgeted for $100,000 in 2015 and the entrance sign is budgeted for an additional $100,000 this year. The projects will likely get underway this summer, pending final budget approvals, she said.
Mayor Patricia Heintzman said she would like the new sign to be different than the run-of-the-mill community sign.
“I think we have an opportunity to do something really creative, innovative, different, we are going to explore it maybe a little bit at the public art committee meeting this week in terms of how we can integrate it into a statement of sorts,” she said.
The mayor also cautioned against expecting the sign to immediately appear.
“Likely you won’t see anything until later in the year,” she said.
“We do a ton of projects a year and sometimes we plan for more projects than we can actually do.”
Meanwhile, the old “Welcome to Squamish” deer sign that used to be at the entrance to downtown on Cleveland Avenue was recently acquired by The Squamish Historical Society.
The District of Squamish donated the sign to the society and the adventure park, Whistle Punk Hollow, is currently storing and displaying the sign until a permanent home can be found, according to Bianca Peters of the historical society.
The sign had been stored at the district works yard since 2010.
“There has been a lot of interest in the Welcome to Squamish deer sign over the years, and the Squamish Historical Society is pleased to be able to preserve it,” said Peters. “We appreciate that Janice and Jeff Kirkman of Whistle Punk Hollow recognized its importance to our community and for showcasing it at their property.”
Peters said the society is looking for someone to volunteer to refresh the sign. If interested, email [email protected].
