Port Alice Trails
“We are thrilled to have our new interpretive signage installed along our sea walk and dike trail. Lime design created and installed beautiful signs that provide people with a wealth of information. From initial consultations through to final installation, Lime Design was there for us. We immediately had people expressing how impressed they were with the signage by contacting the village office and sharing on social media. The team at Lime Design were always very quick to respond, and adaptive to our needs. Their captivating signs are a great addition to our village, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
– Ryan Nicholson
Economic Development Officer
Village of Port Alice
Port Alice has been an economic driver for Northern Vancouver Island since 1918 when the pulp mill opened. In 2015 the mill closed leaving the community to redirect its goal and vision for the future. In 2016 the “Port of Potential” Strategy was completed with a focus on tourism, small and medium business, and to attract and keep residents.
From the strategy…
“Purpose of the Port of Potential Strategy
The development of this economic development strategy was motivated by the most recent mill curtailment, which started in late 2014 and continues to date (Winter 2015). The purpose of undertaking this strategy was to continue the process of economic diversification and resiliency by creating a strong economic base (e.g. population and businesses) that can better capitalize on and create opportunities.
Today, Port Alice is at a crossroads with many potential future scenarios: a thriving small town, a bare bones work camp, a retirement community, a tourism destination and more. The development of this Strategy sought to understand what future Port Alice community members wanted to see, and what was actually possible. To do this, we worked with over 130 community members, reviewed case studies from similar towns and worked with an experienced steering committee and consulting team.
Ultimately, the goal was to create a pragmatic Economic Development Strategy grounded in the values of Port Alice residents, the economic realities of the area, and the capacity and resources available.”
Lime Design was retained through a public bidding process to develop interpretive solutions for the village welcome kiosk, the dike trail, and sea walk. We developed a diversity of themes from history, biodiversity, forest practices, climate, and recreational opportunities to offer a rich and attractive picture of a community in transition.