Following in the footsteps of his father, Brian Bonn has created a brand new sign for the Bella Coola Airport. The late Willi Bonn created the previous Welcome sign that was destroyed last December when a freak windstorm hit the airport.
The sign was built using locally sourced materials from his acreage, with the exception of the lettering, which is a reclaimed metallic slate. The cedar slabs were power saw milled from a cedar felled several decades ago. The lettering and other graphics were hand cut using a four-inch angle grinder with a high quality diamond blade.
“I wanted to use materials that would endure our moist climate while keeping the maintenance to a minimum,” said Bonn. “The entire project took a couple of weeks to complete and was an enjoyable endeavor. The staff at the airport say the tourists are once again taking their pictures next to the Welcome sign, with big smiles, which was the ultimate goal.”