The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is moving forward with a civic addressing signage project for Electoral Area B—an effort officials say will help first responders during future emergencies.
At its June 25 board meeting, the SLRD greenlit $30,859 from the Area B Community Works Fund to install reflective, bylaw-compliant civic address signs at approximately 260 rural properties. These are primarily located in the Yalakom Valley, Texas Creek Road, Seton Portage and Highway 12 areas.
“In emergencies, every second counts,” said SLRD Board Chair Jen Ford in a release. “This project will help ensure emergency responders can find rural homes quickly and safely, especially in low-visibility conditions or during high-risk events like wildfires.”
The urgency of the initiative was underscored by the 2023 Casper Creek wildfire, where delayed evacuations were partly blamed on the absence of visible address signage in remote areas. First responders struggled to locate and deliver evacuation notices to some property owners, highlighting a gap in emergency readiness.
The SLRD said the new signs—standardized, reflective and installed on posts near property access points—will improve emergency navigation and communication systems. They’ll also feed into the region’s GIS mapping tools, which underpin the SLRD’s Emergency Alert System.
The project comes at no additional cost to homeowners. All signs and installations are being covered through the “Disaster Mitigation” stream of the Community Works Fund, formerly the Gas Tax Fund. Work is scheduled to begin in late summer and continue through the fall. Property owners will be notified ahead of any on-site work.
Residents not covered in this phase can still apply for signage through the civic addressing request form on the SLRD’s website or by emailing [email protected]
More information is available on the Civic Addressing Project Page.
