Kelowna city councillors have endorsed the design for a new entry sign at the north end of the city’s boundary.
The entry sign will be located just south of Ellison Lake near the Lakeview Memorial Cemetery.
It will replace the former welcome sign that was located at Reid’s Corner but ultimately taken down following intersection improvements in the area.
In addition to the design, councillors supported the overall vision for the sign, which was created in collaboration with local Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.
City staff explained that the entry monument was inspired by an overarching vision of “weaving together” and features elements of Indigenous basket weaving.
“The monument is comprised of multiple layers of individual elements, or ‘bands,’ which intertwine to form a whole,” staff told council.
“As with the construction of a basket, when elements are woven together, something strong, purposeful, and united is formed. This is also true of a ‘community’ where different cultures, neighbourhoods, beliefs, and landscapes are interconnected.”
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The sign will feature five bands that represent one of five themes that speak to Kelowna’s landscape, ecosystem and historical heritage.
The last band will feature Kelowna in tall letters, which staff said will be designed to backdrop against the mountains in the background.
Staff said the project will go to tender and construction will begin sometime next year.
Kelowna councillors were generally supportive of the project.
“Kelowna is a pretty unique place and I think that you’ve made a pretty unique entry into our community. It’s stunning,” said mayor Tom Dyas.
Coun. Maxine DeHart called the sign beautiful and was pleased to see the design, pointing to the improvement from an entry monument introduced (and rejected) in 2020.
“We have gone without a sign for a very long time … we have gone without our identity for a very long time,” she said.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said coun Loyal Wooldridge.
“It’s woven the cultures together beautifully. You’ve done an authentic job of integrating Indigenous peoples into the design and I especially enjoy the use of the actual topography of the hill and how it all flows.”
Coun. Stack applauded the design, the color and the lights at night.
“This will be an iconic sign. One that will make myself proud to drive into this city and I actually think other citizens of this city will be very proud to see this put together,” he said.
Coun. Ron Cannan did not support the proposal and was the lone vote against the project.
Although he said he knew how important it was to get the city a new welcome sign and supported the design, he was concerned that the location wasn’t the best.
“I just think there’s too much going on for a vehicle travelling 90 km/h to 100 km/h across that busy road, already there' concerns with fatalities,” he said.
He thought the design would have been better as a signature sign located downtown.
He also asked about the capital budget and operational budget for the sign.
City staff said the estimate they were receiving was anywhere from $700,000 to $800,000 but said that doesn’t include local consultant fees but does include custom manufacturing, supply and 20% contingency.
Staff added that site development and utility serving would also need to be addressed.
“Staff will provide a more accurate cost to council in the December budget,” city staff said, adding that it is recommended this project be funded through the Growing Communities Fund.
