The City of Prince Rupert is seeing both branding and signage upgrades to include Sm’algyax language.

Originally started in 2020, the City of Prince Rupert first decided to upgrade their city logo, not long after a signage project was started by Tourism Prince Rupert. The formal announcement was then made in March 2022.

The new logo design for the city was completed by Tsimshian artist Russell Mather and features the Sm’algyax language. 

“We really wanted to make sure that we paid appropriate tribute to the territory that we live on,” Veronika Stewart, manager of communications, engagement, and social development, said of the decision to include Sm’algyax in the update.

At the same time, new signs were installed at all highway entrances to the city as well as wayfinding signage at popular spots around town. 

Local artists were commissioned to design all of the new signs. In addition to Mather’s logo design being used on the entrance signs, Chris Fraser, Lucy Trimble, Rod Tasaka, and Kristen McKay are all featured on the art pieces. Installation and manufacturing of the signs were done throughout the first week of February by Innovative Signage and Broadwater Industries. 

Ceilidh Marlow, executive director for Tourism Prince Rupert, who led the signage project, says that there are plans to install more wayfinding signage within the next couple of weeks.

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