By Alison Taylor
Half of Whistler’s new 2010 venue signs will be reduced to a third of their original size.
The decision comes after complaints from the municipality and private citizens about the size of the signs which were erected just weeks ago.
Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) spokesperson Diana Waltmann confirmed that four signs would be changed — the two marking the athletes’ village in the south end of Whistler and the two denoting the alpine skiing venue in Creekside.
Originally those signs were 10 feet by 13 feet for a total of 130 square feet. The new signs will be 6 feet by 7 feet for a total of 42 square feet.
It is not clear how much it will cost to make the changes.
The sliding centre signs in the village, which were smaller to begin with, will remain as will the Nordic centre signs on the outskirts of Whistler.
“We’re satisfied,” said Waltmann.
“The municipality’s objection was to the size, which we felt was distracting and not in keeping with the resort character, with the other signs on the highway. And so that’s been rectified.”
Ministry of Transportation (MoT) spokesperson Mike Long confirmed the signs will be changing in the coming weeks.
He explained MoT’s role is to fabricate the signs and put them up at the request of others. In this case it was at the request of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games.
“We put them up at other people’s behest,” he said.
Waltmann also explained that the signs recognize the funding partners for the venues, chiefly the federal and provincial governments. The athletes’ village signs also recognize the RMOW for its multi-million dollar contribution to that project.
In addition to the venue signs the municipality will soon be putting up an official “host mountain resort” sign at the entrance to the resort, which recognizes Whistler’s unique status in the Games.
