Smiths Falls resident spreading joy of local ‘sign war’

Smiths Falls is the latest Ontario town to jump on the 'sign war' bandwagon, and one resident has created a platform to help other residents enjoy the banter between businesses.

Signs outside of a number of local businesses, usually reserved for selling products, are now being turned into rhymes and puns to poke fun at neighbouring stores.

After driving around town earlier this week, Smiths Falls resident Erin Deegan knew she had to immediately start documenting the signs and share them with others. Deegan then created the Smiths Falls Sign War 2021 Facebook group to share with the larger Ottawa and Valley community, so they too could enjoy it during the province-wide stay-at-home order.

“It's such a weathering time on so many people. I'm sure everybody feels it to a degree and I just know it's making people happy, and if I can make just one person smile today, that's good enough for me,” explained Deegan.

Sign wars are not a new thing, nor was it invented in the province, but the first little town to make it big and gain international attention was the southern Ontario town of Listowel.

Following that, a number of other towns and cities joined in on the fun like Innisfil,  Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay, just to name a few.

Deegan said after she created the group on Thursday, May 20, pictures and comments started flooding in to her social media.

“I went to bed last night and woke up this morning to 300 more likes. My phone is blowing up by the minute with somebody liking it, following it.”

As of Friday at noon, 22 creative signs were posted in town by local businesses like Valley Custom Cuttings, Leisure Days RV Centre, Blue Door Spa, and RCL Automotive. Even the Town of Smiths Falls joined in by posting a sign at the Memorial Community and Youth Centre that read, “We hear there's a sign war of some sort. Poke the bear, we're a good sport.”  The Bears are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team that play in the Smiths Falls memorial centre.

There are a few more businesses in town that Deegan thinks will join into the competition before it starts to wind down but she goes on to say that she's not sure when the 'sign war' will actually end.

“I had a brief moment yesterday where I was like maybe I shouldn't have put the year there [the Facebook group name]. Could it go longer than a year?”

With the provincial stay-at-home order, Ontario residents are advised not to travel during the Victoria Day long weekend, but Deegan hopes residents of the Smiths Falls area can get out and enjoy the weather while taking in the signs.

“I wish I had my own sign, but I don't, so this is my way too of having fun,” said Deegan.