Why are some street lights purple in Vancouver? Here's what the city says
While driving, cycling or walking through downtown Vancouver at night, some residents and visitors have noticed a purple glow coming from street lights.
As it turns out, the colourful effect isn't on purpose – it's caused by a manufacturer error related to the coating of the LED lights, the City of Vancouver told CTV News Vancouver in an emailed statement.
All purple street lights in the city are being replaced under warranty by the manufacturer, American Electric Lighting.
The city said the problem was first noticed in 2021 and it's believed to be connected to lights installed between June 2017 and June 2019. In total, an estimated 350 lights may be impacted and 111 have been reported as already having the purple hue.
The city said the company's also analyzed the problem to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"There is no health risk associated with the unintended colour, and the city is working with the manufacturer to identify and replace all failures," the city's statement said.
On Vancouver Island, affected lights along the Malahat were identified for replacement, according to the Transportation Ministry.
"This has occurred at isolated locations and is not anticipated to be an ongoing issue," the ministry said in a statement in June.
The problem's not unique to B.C., as the glow's been spotted in other major cities across North America including cities in Kansas, Maryland and Nebraska.
With files from CTV News Vancouver Island's Adam Chan
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.