By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Jan. 7, 2014
District of Squamish has appointed ten local citizens to its newly minted Brand Development Committee.
Over the next nine weeks, these citizens will join a councillor and three district staffers to rebrand Squamish.
The committe will develop the brand with the help of the consulting team of Roger Brooks International, whom the district has payed $65,000 for community engagement and market research.
The ten members are:
Glenn Davies, Downtown Business Improvement Association – Board Member; The Ledge Café – Business owner
Elliot Moses, Squamish Chamber of Commerce – Executive Director
Lesley Weeks, Tourism Squamish – Executive Director
Alice Gus Tsawaysia Spukwus, Squamish Nation – Educator
Michelle Neilson, Squamish Arts Council; Mclean Meats – Business owner and citizen representative
Christy Allan, Expand Marketing Group – Business owner and citizen representative
Deanna Bell, Britannia Mine Museum – Director of Sales and citizen representative
Jeff Cooke, Squamish Off Road Cycling Association – President; Chamber of Commerce – Board Member; Bark Busters – Business owner and citizen representative
Tracey Saxby, Imagine Squamish – Creator; Greener Footprints – Co-Founder and Director and citizen representative
Stephanie Wells, Capilano University Schools of Tourism Management, Business & Communications – Instructor, Program Convenor and citizen representative
These ten will be joined by the following from the district.
Patricia Heintzman, District of Squamish – Councillor and Committee/Council Liaison
Randy Stoyko, District of Squamish – General Manager of Business and Community Services
Dan McRae, District of Squamish – Economic Development Officer
Christina Moore, District of Squamish – Manager of Communications
Jim Harvey says
It is encouraging to see the make-up of this group. For months now I’ve had the sickening feeling that the District was capable of making this a ‘re-branding’ exercise and not the ‘branding enhancement’ exercise it should be . As an original proponent of our community slogan and a long-time advocate for investing in our brand I believe this process is LONG overdue. Let’s hope that practical and realizable investments are the outcome. Let’s hope the community can come together around our brand and not pull in the separate directions that has so often defined us.
Jean says
No Branding needed for Squamish
The LNG Woodfibre project will be branding our Sea to Sky, Squamish area.
New name to come.. ” Stink City like in the past”
We will issue Gas mask for the visitors and resident and supply ante
“rotten egg smell deodorants” in the future
Squashed says
I have to agree. It won’t matter what Squamish brands itself as. If LNG moves in, Squamish will not be a destination of choice for anyone; not visitors, not businesses; and definitely not families wanting to build a life here.
Pick it up says
I don’t know why they need to spend all that money because I’m going to give to them for free. This is it. You can’t deny it. This IS Squamish:
“Got Dog Poop? We Do!”
Patricia Marini says
I agree with Pick it up!
bob says
what a waste of time and money!! This is total crap!! And the crying about LNG, give it the hell up!!
larry mclennan says
Any more money being spent above the $65 K ?Did anyone check out the consultant’s web page ? For 45 $ / month($500 / yr) there are 20 videos which address all sorts of ‘branding’ strategies and issues.Why wasn’t this option considered or chosen? Who decided that a “re-branding” was needed in the first place? Who selected this committee ? Will a financial report of all costs associated with this exercise be provided ? What is the time frame for completion ? Where is the original proposal with the projected cost-benefit analysis or was one even produced?
heather gee says
The two most important routes that visitors look for are, to the Spit and to the Beachfront. These two roads are both in an appalling condition and after all this money being spent on branding – no important fixes will be made.
Geo Hyperform says
Popular topic…. everyones got an opinion, which is healthy. But since everyone does have an opinion, why wouldn’t a district staffer be given the (already-paid) task of assembling ideas from the WHOLE community rather than such a small sample group?
Consulting for Municipalities; good work if you can get it, but its not rocket science, folks. Beware of consultants from the abstract world of visioning schemes , flip charts and focus groups. These are strategies invented by the advertising industry and have replaced community forums for naively optimistic town councils looking for lazy/easy ways to spend YOUR town’s money.
PS : “branding” is a term derived from the cattle industry and its about getting burned. (brand=fire or “being in a state of anger” in German) and it’s the newest way for parasitic corporate consultants to suck public money when the corporate work is drying up.
Don’t get burned Squamish! Voice your concerns about such dubious uses of tax money for frivolous exercises in corporate self identity for goofy pamphlets and throwaway slogans. If you must be re-“branded”, make it an internet community/school assignment. High school students, eg. can generate just as cool of a catch phrase as a 13 person focus group. This is everyone’s business