Mission’s downtown recently received a fresh look.
A pair of new “downtown gateway signs” were installed on Monday (Aug. 14), just in time for MissionFest this weekend (Aug. 19).
According to the Mission Downtown Business Association, the signs were almost eight years in the making. Former MLA Simon Gibson helped make the project possible by securing a grant for the DBA for public art downtown.
“After years of deliberation and design, they are finally in the ground and will act as a gateway to our downtown core,” DBA executive director Karley Holley said.
The signs welcome visitors on the corners of First Avenue and Horne Street in front of the Tim Hortons and Petro Canada respectively.
“While it doesn’t envelope our whole downtown area, it pays homage to our historic main street. The Mission Downtown Business Association decided on colours that would complement the new City of Mission branding and also allow for a warm welcoming tone. The DBA is proud to bring this project to life,” Holley said.
The DBA will engage local artists to help decorate the back of the signs with an art piece that will be bolted to the backside. The Arts & Culture department at the City of Mission will partner on the initiative as well.
The DBA will hold a call for applications in the fall and rotate artwork throughout the years.
Holley will speak about the signs during her opening remarks at MissionFest on Saturday (Aug. 19).
READ MORE: MissionFest 2023 will have ‘more of everything’
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