Renovations, along with completely new additions, are coming to B.C.’s many Stops of Interest along highways within the province.
A public consultation period is underway, according to the province, and its asking for input to identify topics and locations for new signs in order to celebrate B.C.’s history.
“I encourage (people in the valley) to think about special places and stories in their areas,” says MLA for Prince George-Valemount, Shirley Bond, in a press release.
“These signs will support tourism throughout our province, offering visitors snapshots of our history… and diverse experiences our province offers,” she says.
Currently, B.C. has 139 Stop of Interest signs around the province, 75 per cent of which were surveyed as needing repair, and each telling a story of a person, place of event significant to the spot’s provincial history, according to the province.
The Provincial Government is looking to add 75 new signs to its Stops of Interest inventory, it says, and it is encouraging its citizens to use the opportunity as a way to identify unsigned sites of importance.
Due to wear-and-tear, the province says many of the signs are now dated, worn or even lost, and some “TLC” is needed to get the signage to a standard citizens can be proud of.
“We are busy repairing the existing signs, and while we are busy repairing them, we need your help in creating brand new Stops of Interest,” the province says on its website.
For many tourists following provincial routes and visiting these signs has become a favourite summer vacation, the province says, as the signs of been on display since 1958.
“Our province is rich with history and these heritage signs show our commitment to preserving the culture from the past, celebrating the communities of today and inspiring pride for the future in British Columbians,” says Todd Stone, minister of transportation and infrastructure for the B.C. Government.
Suggestions will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2017, and will be reviewed by senior ministry staff from across government, as well as being reviewed by cultural and historical experts for accuracy, the province says.
Installation of new signs is expected in late spring, 2017.
Anyone with a suggestion is encouraged to visit http://engage.gov.bc.ca/ stopsofinterest/.
