Modern Signage for Prince Rupert
Improving Prince Rupert’s entry & wayfinding signage, bolstering downtown appeal through the addition of public art, and providing opportunities for the inclusion of Sm’algyax language locally.
In 2021, Tourism Prince Rupert secured funding to install new signage throughout Prince Rupert. This project had two main components:
(1) The installation of new highway welcome signs at each main entrance to the community: at the Highway 16 West entrance from Galloway Rapids Bridge and at the Highway 16 South entrance from the BC Ferries terminal.
(2) The installation of new wayfinding and informational signage throughout the downtown and main tourism areas, highlighting the main attractions, activating the new City districts identified in the Prince Rupert 2030 Vision, and showcasing the work of local artists.
Marty Clemens
A Targeted Approach
Project Goals
This destination development project had multiple goals:
- Improve the visitor experience through new wayfinding & welcome signage across Prince Rupert
- Support local business recovery from COVID-19 by helping direct more traffic to key areas
- Remove and replace outdated & inconsistent signage
- Create opportunities for local artists to display more public art in Prince Rupert’s downtown
- Align with the Prince Rupert 2030 Vision’s placemaking & downtown improvement strategies
- Create opportunities for the inclusion of Sm’algyax language and Indigenous art in public spaces
Marty Clemens
Local Artists
Russell Mather
Chris Fraser
Lucy Trimble
Kristen Mckay
Roddy Tasaka
Welcome Signs
The new highway welcome signs, designed in collaboration with local artist Russell Mather and the Ts’msyen Sm’algyax Language Authority, have now been installed at each main entrance to the community. The installation of new welcome signs at both official entrances to Prince Rupert aims to not only signal to visitors that we are a vibrant, welcoming community, but also that key economic investments are taking place here and that Prince Rupert is entering a new decade of transformational change.
The replacement of the welcome signs at both entrances to Prince Rupert has also long been a desired destination development project, with the sign at the BC Ferries entrance removed due to disrepair and the other sign off Highway 16 from Terrace displaying no sense of community identify or visitor information whatsoever. The replacement of these signs is an opportunity to showcase Prince Rupert’s unique culture and community vibrancy at all main entrances to the city. The new signs will include a welcome message in Sm’algyax as well as artwork created by local artist Russell Mather.
Wayfinding Signage
Tourism Prince Rupert aims to help both locals and visitors more easily locate key retail, dining, hospitality, and outdoor adventure business and attractions in the downtown core by installing vibrant new wayfinding signage featuring designs from local artists in key downtown districts.
Designed to enhance both the visitor and local resident experience, the new wayfinding signs highlight some of the city’s most popular attractions and destinations, while also showcasing the work of talented local artists Chris Fraser, Lucy Trimble, Rod Tasaka, and Kristen McKay.
A common challenge identified by visitors is difficulty navigating Prince Rupert’s streets without a guide. New wayfinding and signage along main walking routes would help alleviate this frustration and help Tourism Prince Rupert advocate for the continued growth and development of the local tourism sector. The timing for this project is also opportune. The economic toll of COVID-19 on local tourism sector businesses has been immense, with a number of key attractions and tour operators electing to close completely for the 2020-21 seasons. Tourism has been one of the hardest-hit sectors by COVID-19 and investment into local tourism infrastructure will signal that tourism recovery is a key priority and the visitor experience will be improved at all turns to allow for a more resilient local tourism economy in the years to come.
In the fall of 2021, Tourism Prince Rupert executed a public call for artists, from which four local artists were selected for their work to be included in the wayfinding signage design: Chris Fraser, Roddy Tasaka, Lucy Trimble, and Kristen Mckay. The wayfinding signage is divided into five new city districts, as identified in the Prince Rupert 2030 Vision, with artwork for each district provided by a different local artist.
Project Partners
Tourism Prince Rupert would like to thank our partners at the Province of BC, the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the Prince Rupert Community Arts Council, and the City of Prince Rupert for their support of this project. We would also like to thank all of the incredible local artists who contributed their work to this project – Chris Fraser, Lucy Trimble, Kristen McKay, Rod Tasaka, and Russell Mather – as well as the Ts’msyen Sm’algyax Language Authority for working so closely with us to include Sm’algyax Language on all signage.
Finally, we extend our thanks to Will Creative for their creative design work, to Innovative Signage for their fantastic work fabricating this custom signage, and to the team at Broadwater Industries for all their hard work installing the new signage.
Tell us what you think!
We welcome all community feedback.