Every sign has a story at Edmonton's Neon Sign Museum

Randal Kay admits he never thought he'd see the warm glow of hisneon sign.

Hisfather, Bill, owned the jewelry store W.C. Kay Imports and Distributors, a brick and wood building attached to the north end of the Alberta Hotel near98th Street and Jasper Avenue.

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In 1960, a young man entered his father'sstore andofferedto swap a glowing neon sign for a sparkling engagement ring.

"The next morning the fellow was at the door with a sign and a crew," Kay said.

"They hung the sign up in front of the building. He took his engagement ring and told my father he'd be back the next morning to hook it all up. We never saw him again."

The sign hungunlit for yearsfirst outside and then inside,as part of the family business lore, until it closed in 2002.

That changed this month,when Edmonton's Neon Sign Museumat104thStreet and104thAvenue flickedthe switch on 10new signs, including Kay's.

"Myself and my whole family stood through the whole ceremony thinking, 'Ah it's never going to get turned on,it will never turnon,' but they did [it].

"It was a real charge, to put it quite bluntly."

The sign that started it all

The sign museum started in 2002, when a city workernoticed a Canadian Furniture neon sign coming down along 97th street.

It was destined for the junk heap, but the city stepped in and took possession of it.

Over time, they took in more donations, which the members of the Alberta Sign Association repaired and restored. In 2012, they had enough to launch the museum.

The City of Edmonton has spent $250,000 to build the frame and maintain the collection since it launched.

The Neon Sign Museum is outdoors, free and open year round.

City of Edmonton heritage planner DavidJohnston says it's the first museum of its kind in Canada, and that the love for neon signs is enjoying a resurgence in the city.

Eighteen signs are on display, but there'sspace for a dozen more across the street on the outside ofthe historic Mercer Warehouse, according to Johnston.

"People really have a connection to them, and to see them all get tossed away as the new signage came into place just doesn't seem right," Johnston said.

With partners like The Mercer, Telus and the Downtown Business Association on board and the new downtown arena opening kitty corner to the museum, Johnston only expects the buzz to grow.

History lights up

In hanging Kay's sign,Kevin Barabash and his crew finally finished ajob that was started 56 years earlier.

Barabash owns Skyline Sign Services Ltd.As one of the companies that belong to the Alberta Sign Association, theyvolunteertime and supplies to restore the glowing artifacts of the city'sbusiness history.

When Barabashlooks up at the side of the brown brick Telus building decorated inneon, he sees the history of his profession as well.

"Our guys just love it. They want to leave a bit of a legacy for our company, the kids, grandkids and our city," he said.

Barabash said he even hand-painted theEdmonton Turkish Baths Ltd. sign. That business opened in October 1913 andfeaturedsteam baths, a barbershop, cigar stands and shoeshine.

For long-time Edmonton business owners like Randal Kay, being a part of the collection "brings a thrill."

You can see more from the Edmonton Neon Sign Museum this weekend on Our Edmonton at 10 a.m. on Sunday and Monday at 11 a.m. on CBC TV.