Realtor removes children-at-play signs to avoid fine from bylaw

A campaign to quell speeding on some neighbourhood streets met a red light because of the advertising component it included. 

About two years ago, a Collingwood realtor, Heather Garner, had signs printed displaying the message "Please slow down, children at play." The signs were made by request from a former client to be placed on his lawn to help reduce speeders in his residential neighbourhood. 

Bill Waite, who lives in Collingwood’s Creekside development, contacted Garner two years back after hearing of the idea in other municipalities.

“I’d seen signs like this before over the years. I don’t think it’s anything new,” Waite told CollingwoodToday.ca. “I always see kids coming to J.J. Cooper Park here and using the trails so I thought those signs might be good.”

Garner agreed, and printed signs to send them off.

Along the bottom of each sign was an advertisement for Heather Garner Real Estate. 

It was the banner ad that caught the attention of the town's bylaw department. 

This week, Collingwood bylaw enforcement sent Garner a request to remove all the signs by the end of the week or possibly face fines.

Over the past two years, Garner says more people have contacted her asking for signs for their lawns after seeing them. She estimates that as of this week, there were about 20 across town, mostly on private property but some in public spaces.

“We found traffic was getting busy in Collingwood, so we thought we would put a few more out,” Garner told CollingwoodToday.ca this week, noting she put a post out on Facebook offering to deliver them to anyone who would like a sign. “People were so thankful and happy to have these signs.”

After she was contacted by bylaw on June 8, Garner said she and her husband went out and collected as many of the signs as she could find to avoid any fines.

“We really respect that there is a bylaw, and we were apologetic and took the signs down right away. In hindsight, I probably should have called the town and clarified,” said Garner. “But someone could have just phoned us and explained. With the fine, it just seemed really dramatic.”

According to correspondence sent to Garner by the town’s bylaw department, had she not removed the signs by June 10, fines could be $65 for sign removal and $5 per day for storage.

“As these signs contain commercial advertisement they are regulated by the town’s sign and advertising bylaw which does not permit these types of signs on public or private property,” wrote bylaw enforcement officer Scott Gordon in his email to Garner.

Last June, the Town of Collingwood reported it was dealing with several complaints about illegal signs reading "We buy houses, any condition" and containing a phone number to call. They were scattered across town, mostly stuck into grass boulevards. Read more here. Town staff reported removing more than 100 of those signs from public spaces. 

Collingwood’s sign bylaw generally prohibits signs on public property without permission. 

Gordon clarified in his communication with Garner that no official complaint was filed regarding her children-at-play signs. 

When contacted for further comment on Thursday, Supervisor of Bylaw Enforcement Adam Harrod confirmed that residents can install slow-down signs in their neighbourhoods on their own private property (not on boulevards) as long as there is no commercial advertising on the signs.

In June 2021, town council approved a new process for residents who would like to see more traffic-calming measures in their neighbourhoods to submit a petition to the town, which Harrod says is also still an option for residents who are concerned about speeding.

SEE MORE: Council gives green light to new traffic-calming policy

Moving forward, Garner said she’s still interested in creating the signs without her business logo. When she posted on Facebook the reasoning behind taking down the signs, she said she received an outpouring of support from the community.

“Obviously, people loved it. The response has been way bigger than I ever imagined,” she said. “It wasn’t really about my logo. It didn’t come out of a place of wanting free advertising.”

Waite said he finds the whole situation frustrating as a resident.

“It started as something we thought was a good idea. I think most people think it’s just a friendly reminder,” said Waite. “Here we are, trying to do something good, but now there’s some bylaw stopping us? It’s upsetting. Who are we bothering?”

“It is frustrating when these types of things are shut down. We need every little bit of good ideas and good spirits from people. We wonder why people don’t get involved. Here’s a reason,” he said. “I think it’s silly."