Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:
Editor's Note - based on people I've talked to in last 48 hours - I think Williams Lake Council, except Councillor SPS Rathor, has seriously underestimated the public anger around how this Place Brand proposal was handled and I don't, at this point, see general public support around the idea to spend $40,000 for a place brand, given we have one already.... but I stand ready to be corrected by my readers'...
Williams Lake City Council is turning to local residents for more input on the City’s placebrand. Interested citizens are encouraged to share their opinions through an online survey on the Williams Lake Place Brand site – and organizers are hoping to get more participation this time around.
“The brand input site has been up since last summer,” says Alan Madrigga Manager, Economic Development. “And we want to get more participation to build on the one on one interviews and the variety of opinions we have already recorded.”
The first brand presented featured the tagline “Welcome to the Republic of Life” which was aimed at “thirty-something” people who are looking for a great small town where they can live, work, and raise a family. The concept was meant to be a modern take on the area’s cowboy heritage, and it resonated strongly with the intended audience. However, once it got out into the community it generated a lot of controversy. As a result, Council has decided to go back to the people for more input.
“Our goal is to arrive at something which captures the imagination of the young people we are trying to attract and which works for those who live here now,” states Madrigga. “The fact is that we need a strong brand to use in marketing Williams Lake to the outside world. It is a basic tool for community development in the 21st century.”
Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook explains that Williams Lake is competing against many other similar rural cities to attract new residents and new investment. “Attracting more population is important to maintaining and growing existing services and businesses,” she says. “If we’re going to build a sustainable economic future, we absolutely have to find a way to attract young families who will help build entrepreneurial energy and skilled workforce.”
Mayor Cook points to Red Shreds, and Barking Spider bike shops, the Sandpiper Fly Fishing shop, Juniper Trails B&B, and a variety of industrial supply contractors and stores as the types of dynamic businesses that are reflective of local lifestyle pursuits, and industry based opportunities that help attract people to the area. “We want to create new momentum by showcasing our competitive strengths – both old and new – to bring in a diversity of people.”
Participate in the Williams Lake Place Brand online survey at www.mywilliamslake.placebrand.ca.
2 comments:
The Mayor, Council and Staff should start managing the City's tax dollars more effectively, they should enforce bylaws, they should encourage good citizenship, they should ensure that the facilities are up to standards and we have not only sports facilities but Arts venues that can support Theatre, music and dancing concerts. It is not the City's job to do the PR job to attract employees for the Mining companies or even the Health Athority..it is the City's job to govern and manage the tax dollars wisely so there is money to pave the roads, and ensure that the quality of life is high for all its present citizens!
Until Mayor, Coucil and RCMP take crime in Williams Lake seriously we need to stop spending any money on this so called branding.
We have a brand. It needs to be tweeked, massaged and implemented. BUT
We cannot sell Williams Lake until we take care of the crime.
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