Produced by civic journalist Jake Boudrot, Episode 48 of Strait Talk explores the Municipality of the County of Richmond’s efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of properly displaying civic numbers on properties—crucial for helping emergency personnel respond more quickly and accurately.
The episode came about after Richmond Warden Lois Landry reached out to Telile with the idea of hosting a show on the topic. She was joined by Isle Madame Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Codie Forest and Kelly Diggdon, owner/operator of Fleur de Lis Signs.
Landry recounted a personal emergency she experienced last summer, during which she discovered her own civic number was only visible from one direction. Later, while canvassing homes in District 2 during the municipal election, she noticed a widespread issue. “I was struck by how many houses didn’t have civic numbers,” she said. “Some have them, but they might be decorative and placed directly on the house—making them hard to see from the road. It’s really noticeable in this part of Richmond County and, I think, across the whole county.”
During her research, Landry discovered Fleur de Lis Signs in West Arichat, a local business capable of quickly producing highly visible civic number signs.
Deputy Chief Forest stressed the importance of proper placement when it comes to emergency response. “If you see a fire truck or ambulance drive past your house while you’re waiting for it, it’s often because they can’t see your civic number,” he explained.
Diggdon added that while reflective signs can be helpful, they’re only effective at night when headlights hit them. Signs placed on garbage boxes are also limited in visibility—only readable from one direction. “The life expectancy of these signs is usually 15 to 20 years,” she noted.
Since being uploaded to YouTube, the episode has garnered over 670 views and has been shared dozens of times on social media—proving the importance of this message is resonating with the community.
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LJI Impact is the section of commediaportal.ca where the journalists and their organizations participating in CACTUS' Local Journalism Initiative can share their greatest successes.
Through the written stories, photos and videos you see in the LJI Impact section, you'll be able to read first hand accounts about how the presence of a community journalist is making a difference in communities across Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative and the Community Media Portal.
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