INUVIK
This was no April's Fool's prank.

The message on this sign had tongues wagging around Inuvik on April 1, and it was not an April Fool's Day prank. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photos

An electronic sign bearing a message stating "child molesters are not welcome in our town" caused controversy all over Inuvik during the morning of April 1.

The mobile sign mounted on a trailer was parked across from the Inuvik courthouse during the morning hours, until about 1 p.m.

It very nearly caused a traffic and pedestrian jam as people stopped to gawk at the sign and ponder its message.

The sign is owned by outspoken and well-known businessman Vince Sharpe. He readily admitted the sign belongs to him, but said he had rented it out for a half-day.

Sharpe declined to disclose the identity of the person who rented the sign.

Sharpe said he had no problem with the message, and supported it wholeheartedly.

"It's a general statement that we don't want child molesters here in town," he said. "How could anyone argue against that, unless you're a child molester?"

Sharpe said he was all for the campaign conveyed by the message. He said he was personally outraged by some recent court cases where people charged with sex offences against children were let go on "technicalities."

He's been a long-time advocate of child protection, Sharpe said. He said he'd like to put pressure on the territorial and federal ministers of justice to make some changes in how the cases are heard.

That includes the possibility of a petition, but Sharpe said he'd like to move faster than that.

"Petitions don't accomplish much," he said.

By lunchtime, the sign had created a significant buzz around town, although no one but Sharpe was eager to speak on the record. Most people were guessing it had relevance to a specific court case, but no one wanted to openly name the players.

One person who demanded to be anonymous said "who could disagree, sickos not welcome in Inuvik!"

David Bob, one of the people who contacted Inuvik Drum about the sign, said "the sign pretty well states how the community feels on this issue every day of the year, regardless of the year."

It had apparently also gone viral on social media sites locally.

Inuvik RCMP detachment commander Dennis McLeod said he had no comment on the situation. No laws were being broken, he said, except possibly a municipal bylaw.