CORAL HARBOUR - The Hamlet of Coral Harbour finally has a new house-numbering system in place to make local residences easier to find for emergency- and hamlet-services crews.

Bylaw officer Roland Nakoolak works at hanging number signs on buildings in Coral Harbour. Service crews in the community are happy with the numbering upgrade. - photo courtesy of Chris Coles

Senior administrative officer Ron Ladd said the system took about four months to implement after he brought the issue to hamlet council.

He said having buildings effectively numbered will be quite beneficial to all service crews in the hamlet.

"Right now the Housing Authority owns about 120 of Coral's 150 or so homes," said Ladd.

"As we build new houses, this system will become even more important because the old one was so inaccurate.

"It was common for building numbers to be all over the place, going from number one to number nine or 50.

"So, when you got called out to service, you either had to tell the person's name or physically look for the house number, which didn't make any sense."

The new system falls under community planning.

It was started before Ladd arrived in the hamlet about five months ago, but had laid dormant for some time.

Ladd brought the numbering-plan options to hamlet council, one was selected, and the initiative proceeded from there.

"The hamlet supplied the plywood, paint and other supplies, and we hired a local person for about eight days, or so, to do all the number signs.

"Then we had two volunteers from the hamlet and two from the RCMP actually hang the signs in place."

Ladd said the response from the community towards the new system has been quite positive, especially from the health centre, RCMP and hamlet staff.

He said a letter was posted in four locations around town, and hamlet staff went on local radio to let the public know the system was being implemented.

"Maps detailing the new numbering system were given to the fire department, RCMP and the health centre to ensure all our major agencies were aware of it.

"We also have maps posted around the hamlet office that people can reference if the need arises.

"It's good to have the system in place to bring the community into modern times."