The digital billboard has been a fixture of the corner of 15th Street W. and 2nd Avenue W. since February. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Up in lights

Council considers using digital billboard to recognize graduates

May 26, 2020 | 8:55 AM

Prince Albert high school graduates could have the opportunity to see their names up in lights on the city’s famed digital billboard.

At Monday night’s executive committee meeting, city councillors were enthusiastic about a plan to display the class of 2020 on the electronic sign at the corner of 15th Street W. and 2nd Avenue W.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity,” Coun. Ted Zurakowski told the meeting. “To celebrate those graduates in our community who are going without a high school graduation.”

Council is set to give the plan final approval at their next regular council meeting on June 1.

Once approved, schools will be responsible for formatting the images and names according to standard specifications so they can be easily programmed onto the billboard’s screens.

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“That can be quite a time-consuming task given that we’re talking about hundreds of images,” the city’s communications director Kiley Bear explained to council.

An example of how names and photos of graduates could appear on the digital billboard. (Council Agenda/City of P.A.)

A letter indicating schools have students’ permission to use their name and image will also be required.

Bear said she had initially declined requests from schools who wanted to use the digital billboard to display grad photos because it didn’t fall within the mandate for community news and events. However given the extenuating circumstance of the pandemic, she decided an exception could be made.

“It’s a one time thing,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW after the meeting. “And COVID-19 – I hope – is a one time thing too.”

The staff recommendation is for the billboard to be dedicated to graduates during the week of June 21 to June 27.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom