Chilliwack – With the success of two anti-graffiti initiatives, BC Hydro and the City of Chilliwack are pleased to renew their graffiti removal partnership for a second year. In 2016, with support from BC Hydro’s Beautification Fund, the City of Chilliwack successfully installed anti-graffiti wraps on 22 kiosks: 11 BC Hydro utility boxes and 11 City-owned traffic kiosks. BC Hydro also provided additional funds and graffiti removal material including paint, decals and anti-graffiti wipes, under the Graffiti Removal Agreement to support the City’s efforts to remove graffiti.
The anti-graffiti wraps have been beneficial to the City, improving the visual characteristics of kiosks, beautifying the properties where they were installed, and deterring graffiti and vandalism. In order to ensure each anti-graffiti wrap enhances the area it is placed in, each design or photo goes through an approval process with Chilliwack’s Public Art Advisory Committee, Chilliwack City Council and BC Hydro before installation.
Prior to being wrapped, many of the selected Chilliwack kiosks were vandalized on a weekly basis. Now, not one of the 22 kiosks that BC Hydro and the City wrapped has been vandalized since. In addition to a noticeable decrease in graffiti vandalism on wrapped kiosks, the City has received positive feedback from the public.
“Through the Beautification Fund BC Hydro contributes up to $1 million annually across the province to purchase and apply decorative wraps to kiosks or move equipment underground,” said David Lebeter, VP Field & Grid Operations at BC Hydro. “We are very pleased to team up with the City of Chilliwack again this year to help spruce up the community.”
By focusing on kiosks in high-traffic areas of the City, such as along Vedder Road, Yale Road and Young Road, BC Hydro and the City of Chilliwack have been able to deter graffiti vandalism and beautify the City’s major corridors.
