Maple Ridge, B.C., July 15, 2024 – As part of Maple Ridge’s 150-anniversary celebrations and in time for the BC Summer Games, the City of Maple Ridge is unveiling new gateway signs that include an Indigenous welcome, the City’s new logo, and it’s ‘Bold by Nature’ brand statement.
 
The contemporary signs are made of multi-layered painted aluminum and reflect Maple Ridge’s iconic landmark, the Golden Ears Mountains. This updated look is part of the phased rollout of the City’s new branding, which was launched last year. The brand statements—bold by nature, driven by community, and a city on the move—signal that Maple Ridge is open for business and a place where people can build futures with deep connections to the community and surrounding nature.
 
The new gateway signs also mark a significant step towards recognizing the history of the Katzie First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation and feature the greeting m̓i cepʷətxʷiləm, which translates to ‘Welcome - Welcome Everyone’ in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, their shared language.
 
“As we welcome thousands of visitors to Maple Ridge for the BC Summer Games and mark 150 years as a city, these signs reflect our commitment to working with Katzie First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation and moving forward together towards reconciliation,” said Mayor Ruimy. “The signs feature a fresh and modern image for Maple Ridge, signalling our strong connection to nature, our treasured heritage, and the vibrant future we look forward to as our community grows to over 100,000.”
 
The gateway signs are part of a continuing collaboration with Kwantlen artists, Joshua Carr and Amber Oliver from Semóye Studio. The design carries on themes from the Maple Ridge 150 street banners, acknowledging the Kwantlen First Nation and Katzie First Nation as stewards of this land for time immemorial.
 
The Meaning Behind the New Gateway Signs
 
“Our concept represents our deep connection to the river,” shared artists Carr and Oliver. “Since time immemorial, our people have travelled and fished the Fraser River to create sustenance and abundance for our communities, as well as build relationships with one another. We wanted to create a design that embodied our traditions, as well as honours the relationship between Qw’ó:ltl'el, q̓ic̓əy̓ and the City of Maple Ridge. Our design uses the river as that connection, representing the bond between the people and the salmon and the harmony of the moon and the tides. We give thanks to all that the river has to offer us. hay ce:p q̓ə.”
 
View the New Gateway Signs
 
Two large illuminated signs will first appear on July 15 at the city entrances on the west side at Lougheed Highway and Maple Meadows Way and on the east side at Lougheed Highway and 287 Street. The signs are being built upon the existing structures and the new artwork will be treated with a refractive vinyl with a shimmer effect and an anti-graffiti clear coat.
 
Two smaller signs will be installed at Lougheed and Dewdney, and 113B Avenue and Kingston in the coming weeks.
 
The previous welcome signs were installed in 2004 and have reached the end of life due to their exposure to the elements for close to 25 years. The welcome signs are part of a larger project, which includes new signage on the Beast clock, at the Civic Centre, and on Jim Robson Way.
 
Maple Ridge, situated on the traditional territories of the Katzie (q̓ic̓əy̓ ) First Nation and the Kwantlen (Qw’ó:ltl'el) First Nation, was incorporated as a District Municipality on Sept. 12, 1874, and became the sixth local government in the Province of B.C.