Edmonton Journal has reported:

Edmonton’s Chinatown has new decorative lights along 97th Street and some nearby roads, but copper wire theft has left parts of the neighbourhood without working streetlights. The installations, which include 14 designs inspired by local Chinese culture, were put up in August after two years of work by the Chinatown Business Improvement Area and designers.

The designs feature images such as dim sum, a bowl of noodles, a phoenix, a dragon and a red lantern. Bright red and gold LED lights also illuminate the gate into Chinatown. The project was funded through the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund, said Kat Luu, the BIA’s interim executive director.

Red lanterns are a familiar feature in Chinatowns around the world, but Edmonton is among the few cities without them, Luu said. Traffic safety considerations have prevented the BIA from installing them, so it began working with designers two years ago to find another way to brighten the area.

“They’re the symbol of welcoming, hope, and good fortune. So red lanterns are basically associated with happiness and prosperity in our Chinese culture,” Luu said. She said the lanterns also provide warm, festive light and celebrate the community’s heritage.

“It’s just beautiful,” Luu said of the new display. “People can walk and just enjoy the lights.”

Olivia Helbrecht, national leader of brand success at Five Star Holiday Decor, the company that designed the lights, said the project involved learning about cultural considerations. She said she felt fortunate to learn that white lights should be avoided because of their association with mourning and loss in Chinese culture.

“I t’s definitely just like a very heartwarming feeling that truly we were able to bring their vision to life,” Helbrecht said.

The new installations have not resolved lighting problems across the neighbourhood. Luu said parts of Chinatown have experienced temporary streetlight power outages since the decorative lights were installed. Steve Schmidt, the City of Edmonton’s director of neighbourhoods and open spaces infrastructure delivery, said thieves have been taking underground copper wire that connects the poles.

“Copper wire theft is a crime that affects the entire community,” Schmidt said. “Street light outages can impact the perception of safety for pedestrians and can make it more difficult for drivers to see those walking or cycling.”

Luu said the better lighting on the main street has so far helped safety. She said there have been fewer people sleeping on the street in areas that are well lit, and business owners have reported less social disorder. Many side streets remain dark because of the outages, however.

Luu also said her business and neighbouring businesses lost internet last week after someone stole wires. “There’s a lot of like extra things that go on in our neighbourhood that people don’t really see,” she said.

To keep streetlights operating while repairs are pending, the city has installed overhead wire connections. Schmidt said those connections will stay in place until permanent repairs are completed. “The extent of the costs associated with the wire theft is still being determined,” he said.

Luu said she remains committed to bringing more festive lighting to the community. The BIA is now working on a plan to make red lanterns possible in Chinatown.

“Hopefully one day,” Luu said. “I would love Chinatown to have all those LED lights.”