Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke speaks during a press conference at Twin City Pocket Park in Whitney Pier on Friday. Both municipal and federal funding was announced for signage and other improvements. Photo by T.J. Colello /Cape Breton PostArticle contentFunding from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the federal government will ensure there will be a sign, sign, everywhere a sign.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentArticle contentThe two levels of government committed to a wayfinding project that will mean new signage, digital kiosks, landscaping, benches and bike racks in high-traffic areas. The CBRM is contributing $600,000 to the project, while the federal government announced a non-repayable contribution of $400,000.Article contentArticle contentFriday’s announcement was made at the Twin City Pocket Park in Whitney Pier. The small park was set up by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society and is named after the twin city relationship between the CBRM and Walbrzych, Poland.Article content Tom Urbaniak, president of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society: “The accumulation of little things will change the psychology of the city, and it will lead to more grassroots development.” Photo by T.J. Colello /Cape Breton PostArticle contentSociety president Tom Urbaniak said the impact of the wayfinding project will be felt both at the neighbourhood level and regionally, too.Article content“Walbrzych saw all of its coal mines close in the 1990s, they had very high unemployment and finally, community organizations and civic leaders said we have to start somewhere,” said Urbaniak. “We have to start by doing a whole bunch of little things. The accumulation of little things will change the psychology of the city, and it will lead to more grassroots development and that approach has succeeded in Walbrzych.Article content“This is very similar to the kind of stuff they did, where you’re profiling and giving a boost to neighbourhood efforts, to your cultural communities, to the unique identities of your neighbourhoods where you’re showing that there’s an official recognition of the grassroots pride that has always existed here, so I really hope this gets implemented very quickly.”Article contentArticle content A conceptual image for a sign welcoming visitors to New Victoria, with a graphic of the Low Point Lighthouse. Photo by T.J. Colello /Cape Breton PostArticle contentArticle content‘SENSE OF PRIDE OF PLACE’Article contentCape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke said communities throughout the municipality will have the opportunity to have signage that both welcomes and gives directions to visitors and locals alike.Article contentThe lower portion of the community signs will be interchangeable, so that local events and activities can be highlighted. The larger community welcome signs will also feature a related graphic to help them stand out from each other, like the Low Point Lighthouse for New Victoria or a miner’s helmet for Glace Bay.Article contentClarke said it’s about community pride, rebuilding and renewal.Article content“We’re being flexible to see where the communities want to have their programming identified,” said Clarke. “As we roll out all these pieces, it really is to say we are one at (CBRM’s) 30th anniversary, it’s to be one community of many communities, but have the vibrancy and pride of place. Not one community will have a different sort of branding than another, it’ll be consistent.
Sign of the times: CBRM, federal government to fund signage, other improvements
