Telus wants to display art and its cute animals on a giant Kelowna sign

The non-descript Telus Central Office building on Enterprise Way in Kelowna could become a showcase for digital art in the city if an Art Illustration Permit is approved.

But it will also carry community messages that include the cute and cuddly creatures Telus uses in its marketing.

“We are focused on installing digital art to allow Telus to continue to bring forward dynamic content to highlight the Kelowna community and provide something residents can identify with and enjoy,” states a letter from Rommel Palanca, Telus’ manager of products and services, that accompanies the application filed with the city earlier this week.

The application asks permission to increase the size of the sign to 33.82 square metres from two square metres.

Diagrams show a sign that starts eight metres (26 feet) from the ground, reaches up another 8.53 m (28 feet) and is 3.96 m (13 feet) wide.

The proposal is to alternate between community messages and digital public art.

“It is important to note, we intend to highlight the Telus relationship with Kelowna and avoid the introduction of a marketing billboard for profit,” the letter states.

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Examples shown in the application include a tree by Jaxon Jurome. A second illustration shows a text message saying “Good morning Kelowna!” which includes the temperature and a picture of a Telus lion. The third view is a text message reading “Kelowna. We are in this together” with a picture of a Panda bear and cub.

None of the examples carry the word Telus.

“This application supports our ongoing commitment and presence within the community and continuation of historical fixtures dating as far back as 2016 hosting Telus for Good Campaigns,” Palanca’s letter states “Digital display provides the advantage of accommodating timely content updates including, and not limited to, being directed by community current events.”

The application has yet to go to city council.

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