contributed by Pille Bunnell 

I have generated this website, and started a Public Outreach/Education program as part of the PSPS activities in order to promote understanding and awareness.  But how to let people know?  We decided that strategically placed mini-kiosks might serve the purpose.  So jointly with Metro Vancouver, we implemented a pilot program.  In the first round we installed 8 kiosks, and in about a month we will upgrade this to about a dozen.

We chose the locations based on several considerations.  First, in order to minimize visual pollution of the natural landscape, we chose sites where there is already a structure.  Second, we chose locations where we can catch lots of traffic; again to minimize the number of signs.  Thus almost all the signs are on crossroads.  Finally, we wanted them well distributed, and reasonably accessible for upkeep.  We plan to change notices frequently.

Metro Vancouver provided the standardized 6x6 posts for uniformity.  In fact they will, over time, be replacing all posts to conform to this guideline.  These are heavy, so they carted the posts to the appropriate sites with their truck.  Mike, one of the park staff, demonstrated how the posts were to be installed.  They are 8 feet long, and have to be sunk 2 feet into the ground, and then set so they are level.

Dave Forsyth, the current PSPS Chair, designed and built the little housings for the kiosks.  They are designed to be weatherproof, easy to clean and easy to keep up to date.  The wood will weather to a much more neutral color.

We are quite pleased with how good they look installed. 

Fred le Piane came and joined us for the installation of the remaining post.  Here you can see him breaking ground with a pick while Dave prepares to shovel out the dirt.  In some of the locations the ground was easy to dig, in others we met hardpan, clay or rocks.

Fred had the foresight to rent a manual pole digging tool; this really helped scoop out the dirt when the hole got deep.  Shoveling from that depth is hard without making the hole fairly wide - not only more work, but also less firm.

Dave is a competent handyman; he not only had the foresight to have the mounting holes prepared, but also came with a portable electric drill to make the installation easier.

When Fred had to leave, Tom Nichols joined us for the final installations.  He got more of a workout than he had expected as we had mis-communicated the drop off location for one of the posts and he and Dave had to carry the errant post for a quarter kilometer.

A few of the kiosks did not get posts; they are installed on the bike barriers.  We are not sure if this will work out; if not they will also  go up on posts.

Then of course the kiosk had to be levelled, and held in place while the screws were set.  Then all I had to do (besides taking photos) was install the poster I had designed.   I’ve made the posters so that the bottom 8 1/2 inches can be easily replaced while the top banner remains in place. 

So I am very happy to have this project come to fruition, especially as it is in time to display the poster for the June AGM and thus they serve to advertise the event and our wonderful speaker.   My intent is to refresh the information every week or two; if there is no event we’ll post a suitable poem or quote, or a nature nugget.  I don’t want the signs to fade into the background!

In the long term, I plant to implement an “adopt a kiosk” program.  Maybe you would like to join in?  It would be an easy and pleasant way to help care for our common resource.

For now, can anyone find all 8 kiosks that have been installed?  If so send a list to web@pacificspirtparksociety.org,   I have a prize for the first complete and correct submission!