Nelson’s new welcome signs are up, but they are not quite complete.

They are still missing the art work and lighting that were part of the design chosen by a public vote in 2021.

The city’s head planner Sebastien Arcand says he is working with Nelson Hydro on the electrical and lighting components, and with the cultural development officer on the artwork that will be installed on panels.

“I don’t have a specific date to offer but will be moving this as quickly as possible,” he said.

In 2020 the city decided the current welcome signs at the three entrances to Nelson needed replacing because the wood panels were deteriorating. The signs were designed and carved by the late Art Waldie in 1968 and then replicated and replaced in 2001.

This was the winning entry in the City of Nelson’s design contest for new welcome signs for the city, chosen in early 2022, designed by Max Vos Coupal. Illustration: Submitted

In 2021 city consulted the public about the design with an online ThoughtExchange process as well as a competition in which residents voted on their favourites.

The winning design by Max Vos Coupal includes removable panels to display local artwork, a timber support system similar to the previous signs, heritage light fixtures, and a greeting in the Southern Interior Salish language (of which the Sinixt and the Sylx languages are dialects), and the Ktunaxa language, Arcand said.

The words on the signs are the equivalent of welcome and farewell in both languages.

“Our strategy has been to make sure we can deliver a sign that meets what we’ve heard during the consultation,” Arcand said. “I think that we’re on track with that.”

READ MORE:

• Nelson council chooses design for new welcome signs

• Nelson launches design competition for welcome signs

• Nelson’s welcome signs: have your say on the new design