LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The village of Fort Simpson now has a new way to greet visitors to the community after a welcome sign was installed on Highway 1 earlier this month.

Fort Simpson boasts a brand-new welcome sign on Oct. 6. From left, Mayor Sean Whelly, Renalyn Pascua-Matte, Dehcho regional manager of trade and investment with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Martina Norwegian, regional business development administrator with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. - Kassina Ryder/NNSL photo

It might be the first welcome sign the village has ever had, Mayor Sean Whelly said.

"We're a friendly community," he added. "We just forgot to put up a welcome sign."

Events are often held in Fort Simpson and the new sign will help make visitors feel well received, he said.

"It's part of being a host community," he said. "We hold a lot of meetings and conferences here."

Village council debated over the sign's logo for about a month before the final design was chosen, Whelly said.

"Ideas were bounced back and forth," he said. "A few concepts were tried."

Fort Simpson resident and artist Joseph Purcell designed the sign. He said he wanted to capture the visual aspects of the North's open sky in his design.

"I just wanted to give the idea of a large sky and trees, on the large-sky quality up here," he said.

Originally, the sign depicted a moose and other designs, but Purcell said he wanted the viewer to take notice of the village crest.

The sign now displays the village crest along with the community's name in both English and Slavey.

The department of Industry, Tourism and Investment supplied 80 per cent of the sign's funding, with the village contributing the other 20 per cent, Whelly said.

The total cost was about $3,000, according to senior administrative officer John Ivey.

"(The sign) has addressed a need that's been identified by community members for a number of years," he said.

"It's in a prominent location and it's indicating to people that we do want them to visit," he said.

Ivey said the sign is a simple gesture to visitors.

"Most communities have a much more elaborate signs," he said. "Ours is basic and lets visitors know we're glad to have them in Fort Simpson."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.