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Husky Energy to fund new digital billboard for P.A.

Nov 7, 2018 | 9:50 AM

A new three-year partnership between the City and Husky Energy will see the construction of a digital billboard near downtown Prince Albert to promote local events and keep residents informed.

The city announced Wednesday that a new double-sided digital billboard will soon go up at the corner of Second Ave. W. and 15th St. The billboard will be funded by Husky Energy as part of a partnership deal following the 2016 oil spill.

Husky Energy is also funding the final phase of the Rotary Trail and a new spray park to replace the Ella Muzzy paddling pool, announced this week.

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne said the new digital billboard will be for exclusive use by the city, specifically to promote events at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre, along with other city news and information, such as updates on local construction projects or activities.

“It’s something that people wanted us to do is communicate better,” Dionne said. “Because we own and operate the Rawlinson Centre, we’ve got to do better communicating, and this billboard will do it … it’ll help fill more seats, it’ll help the whole city.”

With just over 22,000 vehicle trips both north and southbound past the Second Ave. W. and 15th St. W. intersection, Dionne said the area is one of the busiest in the city.

“We will not be leasing space on this billboard,” he added. “This billboard will be 100 per cent for use by the City of Prince Albert, so we’ll be advertising our aquatics, our hockey, soccer, everything that’s going on in the city.”

Today’s announcement is the third and final one involving the new deal with Husky Energy. Husky has previously paid $5 million to the City of Prince Albert for costs associated with the spill.

Dionne said earlier this week that many in the city and surrounding area were also inconvenienced by the incident.

“We do believe that they owe us one more step, and that’s this step,” Dionne said of the partnership.  

 

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt