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This N.L. artist is on a mission to make people visible after dark

Anne Pickard-Vaandering designs high-visibility clothing to keep pedestrians safe.

Anne Pickard-Vaandering designs high-visibility clothing to keep walkers safe

Paula Gale · CBC News ·
Artist Anne Pickard-Vaandering started making reflective clothing last winter. She says pedestrians are sometimes forced to walk in the street when the sidewalks aren't cleared. (Paula Gale/CBC)

With the sun setting earlier and earlier as autumn heads toward winter, pedestrians need to be more visible to drivers — and artist Anne Pickard-Vaandering of St. John's put her creativity to use.

Last winter she started making reflective items to wear and carry.

"I walk to work … and I was having a really hard time negotiating the sidewalks and trying to be safe," said Pickard-Vaandering. When sidewalks aren't cleared of snow, she said, people are forced to walk in the road, so they need to be more visible. 

She started making reflective armbands, and it grew from there.

Pickard-Vaandering wears some of her own reflective-wear. She designs the items to be highly visible so drivers can see pedestrians after dark. (Paula Gale/CBC)

"I just went into production and outfitted a whole lot of people last winter, and now I'm at it again." 

Pickard-Vaandering's designs combine creativity, style and safety. "I'm using thunderbolts and arrows and a lot of hearts. Putting giant hearts on people's arms is definitely going to get you seen." 

Listen to Anne Pickard-Vaandering talk about the way she marries art and safety in her reflective products.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paula Gale

Host

Paula Gale is the host of The Broadcast on CBC Radio One, based in St. John's. She's been a journalist in Newfoundland and Labrador for more than 20 years. Her email is paula.gale@cbc.ca

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