Kamloops sign on hold; Kelowna’s a hot attraction

Kelowna’s new waterfront sign is proving to be a hit with locals and tourists following the trend set by numerous other cities across the world.

The $900,000 sign was installed at Stuart Park at the beginning of the summer, just in time for Kelowna’s busy tourist season where visitors have been snapping photos with the giant “Kelowna” letters and the Okanagan Lake backdrop.

Cities like Toronto, Amsterdam and Cancun have installed similar signs in the past. Some in BC have had similar signs as well, like Nanaimo.

Three years ago, the island city’s sign was cited as inspiration for Kamloops to emulate when city council earmarked thousands of dollars for the project, but it was halted after months of delays.

City hall staff suggested a sign be built at Riverside Park before the CHL Memorial Cup tournament in 2023. City council approved the $150,000 project that spring, with the hope that it be unveiled before the June hockey tournament.

Nothing more was said about the sign publicly until city staff returned to city council in February 2024.

The three-month turnaround was extended after consultations with Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and suggestions the city’s name be somehow blended with “Tk’emlups.”

Staff also had second-thoughts about the Riverside Park location because of the new outdoor rink.

Council pulled back the funds in 2024 and staff were expected to consult with Tourism Kamloops again.

According to the city’s Indigenous and external relations manager, Sarah Candido, it’s been paused ever since.

“At this time, the marquee sign project is not actively moving forward and there is no timeline for its return to council. Should council choose to revisit the project in the future, considerations such as location, design, funding requirements, and partner involvement would be reviewed as part of that process,” Candido said in an emailed statement to iNFOnews.ca.

The signs serve as a branding and marketing tool for the cities and unlike roadside welcome signs which aren’t as easy to pose with an interactive tourist attraction at a central park. Many remain permanent with Vancouver opting for a permanent version after its temporary light-up waterfront sign at Canada Place was a hit.

Amsterdam’s “I Amsterdam” letters were removed in 2018 after more than a decade in place.

There’s no suggestion Kelowna’s sign will be temporary. After the initial $500,000 project nearly doubled in price to $900,000, it has so far been a popular attraction.

It was initially approved by Kelowna city council in December 2024, unveiled this summer just in time for the city to host a pair of BC Lions football games and World Cup viewing parties.

For Kamloops, it’s not clear if or when the project might return for city council to revisit.