A new Saugeen Beach sign concept has been selected.
The sign will replace the existing “Welcome to Saugeen Beach” sign which replaced the older, ‘Welcome to Sauble Beach” sign in 2025.
After decades in court, in 2023, the Ontario Superior Court ruled a portion of the beach to a point between 6th and 7th Streets North belonged to the First Nation, not the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. The Ontario Court of appeal upheld the decision in December 2024.
The chosen design was submitted by Jeanette Ladd, and will be placed over the entrance to the beach at the end of Main Street where the Welcome to Saugeen Beach sign currently is. It reads “Chi-Gmiinh Saugeen Beach.”
Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie says “Chi-Gmiinh” means ‘The deep water of a big lake– where everything is. That’s where they used to harvest whitefish because those were the spawning beds before the everybody starting utilizing it. Most of the whitefish had migrated to other areas to spawn.”
He estimates it could be up in in the next few months, noting, “It’s a work in progress. It will look nice when it’s done and summer is here and everybody will continue to have access to the beach,” says Ritchie.
Over the last several weeks, Saugeen First Nation had been considering a number of sign design submissions from the community and narrowed it down to three finalists.
The Beach Advisory Committee undertook a review process with the support of design consultant Katie Wilhelm. They said in a Facebook update, the design submissions were “carefully evaluated based on cultural representation, alignment with unified beach branding, visibility at beach entrances, and long-term durability.”
Other work by Ladd can be found locally in the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre in Port Elgin,The Bruce County Museum, Penetangore Hub in Kincardine, The Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society, and in various locations including Waterloo International Airport and street light banners in Mississauga among many other places.
Chief Ritchie also notes there is a new sign at the Bruce Peninsula National Park “The have the Saugeen Anishinaabekiing sign there, the treaty territory now.”
He adds, the First Nation has been working with Bruce County’s political leadership on the possibility of erecting signs on the borders of the treaty territories, “Just to help educate and inform the general public around the presence of the people here.” says Ritchie.