New ‘WINNIPEG’ sign aims to send message of civic pride with the caps lock on

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This article was published 27/07/2017 (3019 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On a plateau of concrete next to the main festival stage at The Forks, surrounded by lush, green trees with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a backdrop, stand eight letters, 2.4 metres tall, spelling out: WINNIPEG.

Construction on the sign, which some say will become a city landmark, began Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon, all the letters were in place and a construction crew was working on the sign’s wiring, that when finished, will light up the letters in various colours.

The installation of the sign is part of the city’s commitment to the 2017 Canada Summer Games, which kicks off today.

During his announcement of the project, Mayor Brian Bowman said he hoped the sign — measuring 16 metres from end to end — would help build pride in Winnipeg and promote the city to the influx of visitors the Games are to bring in.

“Winnipeg will be welcoming thousands of visitors to our city,” he said Monday. “This sign, located at one of our busiest gathering places, is a great way to promote our city and will be an important legacy piece of the Games.”

A sign spelling out a city’s name in capital letters is a trend making its way around the globe, with similar designs in places as far off as Brisbane, Australia, and Budapest, Hungary, and as close to home as Toronto and Ottawa.

It’s a fact not lost on Danielle Lebecque and Ariane Gauthier, 18-year-old friends who were wandering around The Forks Thursday afternoon. They had been unaware of Winnipeg’s plan for such a sign, and when they first saw it, they both had the same thought: it looks like Toronto’s.

“I just thought of the Toronto sign when I saw it, because I’ve seen lots of pictures people have taken of it,” said Gauthier.

“I think it’s pretty cool, actually,” added Lebecque. “It’s interesting. I think it’ll definitely be the picture spot for sure, say, during the next Canada Day or events like that.”

The sign’s inaugural lighting will take place Saturday at the beginning of the Games festival events.

Its construction was funded through the city’s civic initiatives fund, at a budgeted cost of $120,000. The funding is part of the city’s $175,000 pageantry support for the Games, which includes the countdown clock and nightly fireworks during the two-week event.

When asked what he thought of the new landmark, 78-year-old Joseph Courchaine of Winnipeg stopped his mobility scooter and stared up at the sign Thursday.

“It’s a sign,” he said with a shrug, adding even though he’s not excited about it, he understands why many would be.

“It’s definitely a positive thing,” Courchaine said. “I can for sure see the children liking it. I’m sure it’s going to be a big appeal to them.

“And whenever we have festivals, the people come out like ants and there are so many of them I can hardly get through with my scooter. I can see them all liking it, too.”

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca