A new Ultimate Fishing Town sign at Victoria Quay and Johnston Road will be unique, draw visitors who will take pictures, and be a good marketing tool, Carolyn Jasken said.
Jasken made the announcement about the sign at city council’s Monday meeting.
The 20 foot high and 14 foot wide cedar carving will depict the phrase “Canada’s Ultimate Fishing Town” and will have an eagle, Chinook salmon and trees ring it.
“This will put an exclamation mark in the city and let people know they are in Port Alberni,” said Jasken, the Ultimate Fishing Town coordinator.
The sign is scheduled to be installed by mid-July, she added. Further signs may be later added directing people uptown, Jasken added.
The group pondered placing the sign at the The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce visitors info centre on the highway but decided that it would amid the expanse of the facility’s wood and glass.
“I’d like to see more art — different art — around the city,” Coun. Cindy Solda said.
The piece was produced by Ucluelet master carver Terry McKinnon, and was underwritten by a combination of UFT, city and privately donated funds, she said.
Jasken discussed the sign with the Hupacasath First Nation, who has welcome figures and a whaling shrine there, as a matter of courtesy.
But the sign site doesn’t encroach on land leased to the tribe, city manager Ken Watson said.
The city agreed to support the group’s request to hoist the piece into place when it’s done.
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