If you’ve ever looked up while driving across the Harbour Bridge and seen those big white letters glowing against the sky, you’ve spotted Saint John’s very own “Hollywood moment!”
Here’s the story of how our iconic Saint John Sign came to be:
A Millennium Gift
The sign was a big New Year’s Eve present to the city from Saint John Energy. It was first lit up on December 31, 1999, to help everyone ring in the year 2000 with a bit of extra sparkle. The idea was to create a bold, “we’ve arrived” landmark that would greet visitors and make locals feel right at home.
The “Aint John” Era
In the early days, the sign was a bit… temperamental! It used old-school fluorescent tubes that didn’t always play nice with our foggy, salty Atlantic weather. It became a bit of a local joke when certain letters would burn out, occasionally leaving us living in “aint John.”
Luckily, in 2014, the sign got a much-needed glow-up! The city installed LED lights, which are way tougher and cheaper to run. Best of all, they can change colors! So, if you see the sign glowing pink, green, or blue, it’s usually celebrating a holiday or a special cause.
More Than Just Letters
If you look closely at the left side of the sign, you’ll see a Crown logo. That’s a nod to our “Loyalist City” roots, honoring the thousands of folks who settled here way back in 1783.
Setting it on Fort Howe wasn’t just about the great view, either—that hill has been watching over the harbor for centuries, first as a military lookout and now as the city’s favorite photo op.
Fun Tip: If you want the best “selfie” with the sign, head up to the Fort Howe lookout at sunset. The view of the city from right behind those giant letters is pretty spectacular!
