Lower Mainland bridge billboards going ahead
Last Updated: Thursday, July 20, 2006 | 11:24 AM PT
CBC News
The Squamish First Nation says it's going ahead with plans to erect 13 large billboards on reserve land near three major Lower Mainland bridges despite opposition from outside the band.
The advertising signs will go up on the West Vancouver side of the Lions Gate Bridge, the North Vancouver side of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge and in Kitsilano near Vancouver's Burrard Bridge.
The hereditary chief of the Squamish First Nation says he's heard a lot of positive comments about the billboard plan from his constituents.
There could soon be billboards at the south end of Vancouver's Burrard Bridge.
(CBC)
"Very positive ones, a whole bunch from our membership, and that's who we are accountable to," Bill Williams told CBC Radio on Thursday.
But Williams admits there have also been complaints from non-band members who are worried that the billboards will ruin the views.
Williams says the band needs the money to replace government funding that has been pulled.
The City of North Vancouver's mayor spoke out against the billboards last month, but is now declining to comment. So is the mayor of West Vancouver.
The huge signs, measuring 36 feet by 10 feet, are not subject to the municipal bylaws that govern billboard placement because they're on reserve land.
However, Williams says the Squamish band is still waiting for environmental approval from Ottawa before it puts up the signs.
