Creating a More Welcoming, Recognizable and Vibrant Downtown Fort Nelson
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) has completed the Downtown Identity & Signage Plan [PDF/16.3MB]—a long-term vision for strengthening the identity of Downtown Fort Nelson.
The plan provides a framework for creating a downtown that reflects our unique landscapes, history, cultures, and community spirit through signage, public art, storytelling, beautification, and placemaking. It is designed to guide future improvements over time.
Project Resources
Help Shape Downtown Fort Nelson
Thank you for the feedback and engagement last year to support the development of the Plan. We are now inviting residents, businesses, visitors, and community organizations to help identify which Downtown Identity & Signage projects should be prioritized first.
Ways to Participate
- Complete the Feedback Form
- Visit Us at the Farmers Market: Saturday, June 27 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Visit us at the Canada Day Festival: July 1 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Follow us on Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
What is the Downtown Identity & Signage Plan?
A downtown identity is more than signs.
It includes visual elements, stories, colours, public spaces, artwork, and experiences that make a community recognizable, welcoming, and memorable.
The Downtown Identity & Signage Plan provides guidance for future downtown improvements by establishing:
- A community-inspired identity framework
- Storytelling themes that celebrate our collective community
- Wayfinding and interpretive signage concepts
- Public art opportunities
- Beautification ideas
- Streetscape design concepts
- Design guidelines to support future municipal projects
The plan is intended to evolve over time as funding, partnerships, community priorities, and Regional Council direction align.
Potential Early Projects
Several lower-cost projects have been identified as potential early opportunities to begin bringing the Downtown Identity & Signage Plan to life.
Potential projects include:
- Decorative wraps for downtown garbage receptacles
- Pedestrian wayfinding signs directing visitors to local attractions and community facilities
- Community murals
- Decorative fence hoarding on vacant or underutilized sites
- Beautification of concrete barricades
- Partnerships with local artists, businesses, organizations, and property owners
These concepts will require further review, costing, partnerships, and Council consideration before implementation.
Which projects would you like to see first?
Complete the Feedback Form
How Will the Plan Be Implemented?
The Downtown Identity & Signage Plan is a long-term vision - not a single construction project.
Implementation will occur gradually over time and will depend on:
- Available funding
- Grant opportunities
- Partnerships
- Operational capacity
- Community priorities
- Regional Council direction
Each future project will be evaluated individually.
Guiding Storytelling Themes
The plan celebrates what makes Fort Nelson unique through three storytelling themes.
Look Up
Celebrating our northern skies, the aurora borealis, and the spectacular landscapes of the Northern Rockies.
Look Out
Highlighting world-class wilderness, wildlife, outdoor recreation, and our surrounding natural environment.
Look Back
Honouring the people, cultures, history, and stories that continue to shape Fort Nelson.
These themes will help guide future signage, public art, interpretation, and placemaking projects.
Working Together
The success of the Downtown Identity & Signage Plan depends on collaboration.
The NRRM will continue working with Fort Nelson First Nation, Prophet River First Nation, local businesses, community organizations, artists, property owners and residents to identify opportunities that strengthen Downtown Fort Nelson while celebrating the community's diverse stories and cultures.
