Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug10/01) - Something strange is going on at Niven Lake.

Recently, several sign posts have been spotted along the walking trail surrounding the lake that have left people visiting the area scratching their heads.

"What do you mean we can't watch the birds?" Signs like this one have been cropping up all over the Niven Lake walking trail. The identity of the prohibitive prankster is still unknown. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

"We're wondering what this is all about?" asked trail-walker Dawn McInnes. "Is this a joke?"

In the last week some prankster -- identity as of yet unknown -- erected eight signs along the trail blaring such prohibitive captions as: "No wake boarding" or "No scuba diving."

It goes without saying that few people walking or jogging along the trail believe there is any validity to the signs. After all, who would went to want scuba dive in Niven Lake?

Most would agree that the swampy lagoon is better suited to the waterfowl who spend their summers there than weekend water enthusiasts.

Yet one woman walking her dog, who wished not to be identified, had one theory as to why someone would feel so compelled to plant the bizarre warnings along the trail.

"It's probably because of the city 'no drinking the water, no swimming' signs," the woman said. "Like who's going to go swimming in there?"

City public works manager Greg Kehoe said the municipal warning signs were installed two years ago at the request of the Stanton Regional Health Board.

A phone call to the board revealed that the official signs were requested due to high arsenic levels in the area.

The official signs were installed at a cost of approximately $200 each.

Kehoe said the city had no direct comment about the imposter signs, but as long as no one complains, they see little reason for removing them.

"If they are in good taste and not offending people, we have no reason to take them down," said Kehoe. "We haven't heard any complaints."

Starr Stinson, who was out for a run with the Yellowknife cross-country ski team -- whom she coaches -- had no problems with the signs. Though she noticed some of her young charges were left confused by them, particularly the "no bird watching" sign.

"I like them, but they confuse some of my kids," said Stinson.

"They ask, 'why can't we watch the birds?'"