Nova ScotiaThe lack of civic signs made it more difficult for firefighters to pinpoint locations during the wildfire earlier this year.Lack of civic signs made it difficult for firefighters to pinpoint locations during wildfireMeig Campbell · CBC News · Posted: Dec 07, 2025 2:15 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Annapolis Ground Search and Rescue, and Sindy Schofield and Adrian Johnstone on the right, stand in front of the West Dalhousie community centre with civic signs made for the community. (Adrian Johnstone/The Valley Eye Photographer)While Justin Oliver, the deputy chief of the Bridgetown Volunteer Fire Department, was fighting the growing Long Lake wildfire, he encountered properties without civic signs. This made it hard to pinpoint exactly where firefighters needed to be when time was of the essence. “I actually made signs out of any material I could find — metal roofing, plywood, anything I could with spray paint to identify certain properties that we were sending resources to,” said Oliver.Homes without civic signs, or improperly displayed signs, is a problem Adrian Johnstone has tried to fix for the past year. The volunteer firefighter runs the popular Valley Eye Photographer page where he works with emergency agencies to educate the public on the importance of civic signs.The fire, which broke out Aug. 13, destroyed 20 homes and forced evacuations before it was deemed under control more than six weeks later.After the Long Lake wildfire, he started to work on a months-long project to provide the community of West Dalhousie with new signs. “It was expressed that there was a lack of civic signs in the community. So it was just kind of an idea that I put together, and asked a few people to see if it was possible,” said Johnstone. Fundraising effortHe enlisted the help of West Dalhousie local Sindy Schofield, who gauged local interest in the initiative. She eventually had a list of over 40 people who wanted a civic sign. Schofield, whose home was damaged in the fire, said she was happy to be involved in such a project after what she says was a traumatic experience for her and her community. Members of Ground Search and Rescue install a civic sign on Saturday in West Dalhousie, N.S. (Adrian Johnstone/The Valley Eye Photographer)“Buying them and getting them installed is just not top of anyone in the community’s mind. But a couple of us … really wanted that done,” said Schofield. Johnstone fundraised $1,200 from local organizations and businesses to purchase and get the signs handmade from a member of the Coldbrook and District Lions Club. 44 signs installedOn Saturday, 44 civic signs were installed on properties around West Dalhousie with the help of the Bridgetown Fire Department and Annapolis Ground Search and Rescue. Maps were supplied by the Annapolis County REMO to help the group locate properties in an area with poor cellphone service. Oliver says the signs are essential to avoid delays for first responders, but it was also uplifting to see the collaboration spanning communities after the devastating wildfire. “Everyone working together as a community is very important. We’ve seen that a lot in the Long Lake fire and West Dalhousie community,” said Oliver. “Community members, Nova Scotians, first responders have come together and worked together to come up with new ideas like this to support each other.” Financial impacts ongoingSchofield says community members who received a new sign are appreciative, as the financial impacts of the fire are still ongoing. “They’re very thankful, very thankful. And the fact that they didn’t have to pay for them was big for them right now,” said Schofield. While Johnstone says more work needs to be done to ensure properties everywhere in the province have civic signs, he is happy to help the West Dalhousie community. “There’s been a lot of trauma and stuff that’s been endured.… It’s just nice to be able to give back. And it’s nice to know that there’s some people in the community that now have a civic sign that did not have one before.” MORE TOP STORIES
Dozens of West Dalhousie properties receive new civic signs through community initiative
