A billboard erected at the southwest end of the Burrard Street Bridge yesterday was arguably doing its job — and it wasn’t even turned on yet — given how much it was turning heads.
But some pedestrians said it was because the sign is new — not because it’s a thing of beauty — that they were doing double takes.
“I think it’s ugly,” said Jennifer Redding. “Maybe with a picture on it, it may look different. They could have camouflaged it a bit more.”
Kim Waterman said he doesn’t like the idea of “advertising in the middle of the sky,” while Rod Beck said he was upset they cut down big, old trees to make way for the sign.
“I prefer the trees,” said Beck.
Rob McNiff said while he doesn’t love the idea of a billboard at the end of the bridge, it could have been worse.
“I don’t really know what to think of it (yet),” McNiff said. “Advertising is everywhere.”
The sign is the first of six electronic billboards the Squamish First Nation plans to put up in Vancouver, North Vancouver and along the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
While some people objected to the electronic signs, which measure three metres high by nine metres wide, the Squamish Nation said they will bring the band much-needed revenue.
