New lighting is going up along Wallace Street in Hope, courtesy of the companies working on the pipeline.
The project is underway already, and in the end, 28 lights along the main street will be replaced with LED lighting. The project will save the District of Hope money for utilities, but also reduce the amount of electricity it uses, says Councillor Victor Smith. Ten of the standards will also be retrofitted with plugs to help with Christmas decorations.
It’s all happening in time to recognize World Environment Day on June 5, which has been recognized by United Nations since 1972 and is celebrated around the world. It is separate from Earth Day, and their slogan ‘only one Earth.’ World Environment Day calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet.
The new LED lighting will last longer than the previous lights — up to 20 years — and light up the sidewalks more for pedestrians, Smith said.
He recently met up with Heather Ferguson, environmental manager for the 5B section of the project, which includes Hope, where the two explained how the project came to be, and what it means for Hope and the pipeline companies.
“Kiewit wanted to do something for World Environment Day,” she said. “So we approached the town council. We sat together and went over a half dozen potential projects.”
This project will easily cost $10,000, says Smith, and has been something that Hope Communities in Bloom has dreamed of doing for some time.
“We don’t have the finances for something like this,” he said. “This means a lot to us.”
The project is being covered by Kiewit, Macro, TransMountain and Bonatti Canada, the four companies working in partnership in the Hope area. This project is in addition to the Community Benefit Agreement project being undertaken - a $500,000 multi-use pathway connecting the two sides of town and leading to popular hiking trailheads.
Ferguson said everyone working on the project is grateful to be working in Hope, and has been enjoying the friendliness of everyone in town and the beauty of the area.
“And this is a fun part of my job,” she said, smiling.
READ MORE: Trash to Treasure returns to Hope
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