Tsiigehtchic sign returns to Mackenzie Delta's 'Little Hollywood'

The Mackenzie Delta's "Little Hollywood" has its namesake sign back up and overlooking the community, after one resident took the project into his own hands.

Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T., has had a sign overlooking the community for years, in the style of the famous "Hollywood" sign. However, two years ago, it collapsed due to ground erosion, according to resident Peter Clark.

"Erosion, sloughing from underneath," he said. "It's actually above the town's municipal gravel pile. They've been doing some excavating, and the ground had slowly eroded back and sloughed underneath... and the sign collapsed."

However, last winter, Clark decided that the sign should be replaced — "the town had adopted this 'Little Hollywood name throughout the Delta, and I thought it was about time," he said — and began preparing for a one-man repair project.

Supported by the territorial government, he brought out material on snowmobiles in the winter, and replaced the sign on his own last week, before the community's popular canoe days.

Though the project was in the works for months, Clark says assembling the sign only took "a couple days work".

"It was a prolonged project, and I had pretty well most of the winter to get ready for it," he said. "It hasn't been there for a couple years. And I think having it back in place, it gives the community something to look at. You can see it from the road, from wherever you are at the ferry crossing."

Clark says that he wishes he'd gotten the sign up earlier, during the region's tourist season, but adds that it's not a tough walk to get there for travellers looking for that perfect photo.

"There is a good spot up there for selfies," he said, with a laugh. "It's just a walk up the hill."