Plan goes to council for approval
Vernon city council is set to weigh a proposal on Monday, July 20 to begin replacing and standardizing signs across local trails and municipal facilities with a high-contrast design intended to be easier to read and navigate. According to a staff report prepared for the meeting, the phase one rollout would proceed using existing capital and operating budgets, with a follow-up request of $38,000 for a broader, city-wide strategy in a second phase.
The initiative stems from a direction issued by council in October of last year to evaluate alternative, high-visibility colour options for wayfinding. The goal, staff say, is to boost readability and accessibility for residents and visitors moving through civic buildings and along popular active transportation routes.
Initial focus: key corridors and aging facility signs
Under the plan, the first installations would be concentrated on the 30th Street and 29th Street active transportation corridor, running from Highway 6 to the Village Green Shopping Centre. That stretch is already slated for safety and transit upgrades through the approved 2026 Transit and Active Transportation Infrastructure Program, positioning the signage refresh to coincide with other works on the corridor.
City staff also propose replacing aging signs at several high-traffic public sites, including city hall, the airport, the community services building and the Lakers Clubhouse. The report frames these early changes as a visible proof-of-concept ahead of a comprehensive implementation strategy anticipated in phase two.
Phased approach and funding
The wayfinding program would proceed in stages:
- Phase one: Deliver trail and facility sign replacements in targeted areas using funds within current capital and operating budgets.
- Phase two: Return to council with a request for $38,000 to shape and execute a city-wide rollout plan for the new sign standard.
Administration notes that a phased model allows the city to address immediate visibility concerns along a major corridor and at key civic touchpoints, while building toward a consistent signage system across neighbourhoods and facilities. Aligning initial installations with scheduled corridor upgrades is expected to minimize disruption and avoid duplicating work.
Accessibility and wayfinding outcomes
The city’s push for higher contrast in sign colours and typography is aimed at better legibility for all users, including people with low vision, older adults and newcomers to the community. Clearer trail and facility markers can also reduce confusion at decision points, support multimodal travel, and make it simpler for visitors to find civic services.
While Monday’s agenda item focuses on authorizing phase one, the second phase would define the full city-wide strategy—standardizing design, placement and materials. Staff indicate the approach is designed to bring uniformity to signage that has, over time, aged or diverged across different locations and projects.
Where the first signs would change
| Location | Action in Phase One |
|---|---|
| 30th & 29th St. active transportation corridor | Install new high-contrast trail signs (Highway 6 to Village Green Shopping Centre) |
| City Hall | Replace aging facility signage |
| Airport | Replace aging facility signage |
| Community Services Building | Replace aging facility signage |
| Lakers Clubhouse | Replace aging facility signage |
Next steps
If council approves the first phase on Monday, staff would begin rollouts at the identified locations and prepare the $38,000 funding submission for the second phase. The comprehensive plan to follow would set the roadmap for applying the new sign standard across Vernon’s broader network of trails, facilities and public interfaces.
The matter is listed for discussion at the upcoming council meeting. Residents who travel the Highway 6–Village Green corridor or rely on signage at the affected civic sites can expect to see the first visible changes once procurement and installation schedules are confirmed by the city.
