The proposed new sign to welcome visitors to Fernie at the Visitor Information Centre. Image courtesy Black Flag Projects
Councillors from Fernie, B.C., have voted to award a $342,000 contract to an Edmonton-based company for the design of new signage around town, including the replacement of the ‘Welcome to Fernie’ sign.
According to a news report from thefreepress.com, the funds are from grants the city was awarded by the province in early 2021, to the tune of over $750,000 for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, tourism, and visitor enhancements at the Visitor Information Centre (VIC), city hall, and throughout town.
The contract awarded on Feb. 14 goes to Black Flag Projects based in Edmonton, Alta.
The City of Fernie ‘welcome’ sign replacement is the latest contract awarded along with way-finding and interpretive signage, improved landscaping, bike parking, and infrastructure at the VIC and city hall.
The ‘Fernie’ logo remains, but the replacement of the natural wooden trim is a steel cutout featuring a forest background, steel basket features filled with stones, precast concrete, I-beams, and a metal batten seam roof. The materials used for the sign are inspired by Fernie and its environment, heritage buildings, and demographics, according to Black Flag Projects.
