A movement is gaining momentum to add more colour and character to the community.
At last week’s district committee of the whole meeting, Kim Hyde and Sicamous chamber executive director Michelle Wolff opened council’s eyes to what the community could be, a tourism-based community alive with colourful buildings, murals and old boats turned into planters, all embracing the nautical theme encouraged in the district’s official community plan.
To encourage buy-in by local businesses, Hyde said the district could consider a tax exemption.
“If a business in town wants to do a mural, there will be a set of guidelines that they’ll have to follow… We’ve got to have the town looking relatively the same,” said Hyde.
Hyde says such a beautification project could be a positive long-term investment for the community.
“You’ve got to make the town appealing for people to come here, and business will follow,” said Hyde. “I’ve been on council and we’ve been chasing business for years. We have to focus on what we have and make it better.”
Hyde says support for the project would also be sought from the high school, local artists and gardeners, and that the process of revitalization would help to bolster community spirit.