Kelowna council expected to approve new north entry sign

The City of Kelowna could be one step closer to getting a new welcome sign.

City councillors revisited the proposal for a new entry sign for the north end of the city and a new signature sign or monument in June.

On Sept. 9, city councillors will be asked to endorse the recommended vision and concept for a new north entry sign, which is proposed to be built just south of Ellison Lake near the Lakeview Memorial Cemetery.

A group of design professionals selected the top three final design earlier this year and the one that gathered 90% of the votes is being brought forward for review by city council.

The recommended concept was submitted by CTQ Consultants in collaboration with two local artists, Crystal Przybille and Sheldon Pierre Louis.

Louis has created murals for Okanagan College as well as the murals in the Rutland area.

Most recently, Przybille revealed a massive mural in Lake Country.

A YouTube video explains that collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists was an important factor for design teams for the beginning.

City staff explain that the entry monument was inspired by an overarching vision of “weaving together” and features elements of Indigenous basket weaving.

“As with the construction of a basket, when elements are woven together, something strong, purposeful, and united is formed,” a staff report notes.

“This is also true of a ‘community’ where different cultures, neighbourhoods, beliefs, and landscapes are interconnected.”

The entry monument features five themes that speak to Kelowna’s landscape, ecosystem and historical heritage. That includes pictures of the city’s signature flower, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, the city’s name sake, the grizzly, beehives, fruit trees, and local Indigenous pictographs.

Louis explained that each band of the sign will represent a different theme.

“We wanted to set ourselves apart from a standard civic monument and so that was where we came in and we thought to use the piece to create an educational and historical and teaching component into it,” he said in the city’s video.

David James with CTQ Consultants said the bands start at pre-settlement with just the land theme and move their way through the Indigenous heritage aspects and ending with Kelowna.

“The ascension culminates with the letters of KELOWNA set against the backdrop of an open skyline that is purposefully positioned between visible mountain peaks,” the staff report says.

Pending council’s approval, permitting and detailed design work is expected to continue for the rest of the year with construction anticipated in 2025.

Signature sign also moving forward

Kelowna councillors will also be asked to endorse the signature sign to be located in Stuart Park.

This project hasn’t advanced as much as the north entry sign, however.

On Monday, Kelowna councillors will be asked to direct staff to proceed with expressions of interest for design and fabrication teams.

The goal of the signature sign is to be welcoming while creating an iconic gathering space that is creative, playful and artistic and provides unique photographic opportunities.

Staff say other objectives for Kelowna’s signature sign will also showcase relationship building with local First Nations while promoting the city’s values, innovation and technology, activity on the waterfront and storytelling of the city’s history.