The Town of Barrhead’s crest may no longer include the Blue Heron.Or maybe it will. It will largely depend on what Ion Brand Design comes up with as a new logo.
On June 11, councillors unanimously approved a recommendation by administration to select the Vancouver-based company as part of the municipality’s efforts to rebrand itself.
The contract is $70,000, minus GST. The bulk of the funding, $54,000, will come from an Alberta Tourism Growth and Innovation Fund (TGIF) grant, while $18,000 will come from the municipality. The town has put an additional $7,000 in reserve for potential cost overruns or other expenses beyond the scope of the TGIF grant, such publishing materials with a new logo.
In council’s information package, it states the purpose of the rebranding project “is to identify who we are and what defines us as a town in Rural northern Alberta ... This clearly defined brand strategy will improve the efficacy of marketing and communications efforts to investors, future residents, and existing local stakeholders in our region.”
Mayor Dave McKenzie said the town is long overdue for a rebranding effort.
“Barrhead has been floating a bit regarding its branding and identity. It is time to refocus it for what we want to do,” he said.
Coun. Ty Assaf asked why communications co-ordinator Kat Hueggenberg chose Ion over the other 28 proposals they received.
In the end, Hueggenberg narrowed it down to three companies, including two firms based in Edmonton.
Basically, she said their experience working with municipalities tipped the scale.
Coun. Dausen Kluin agreed with McKenzie, noting the town’s current logo is not only dated but it also doesn’t really say anything about the muniicpality.
“If you just looked at it, without reading the bottom, you wouldn’t know it was the Town of Barrhead’s logo, “ he said.
“Hopefully we can make our town better by advertising it as it should be.”
Coun. Leslie Penny said it was ironic that they were taking the first steps toward’s rebranding when the town potentially was close to getting a junior hockey franchise.
“We are right on the threshold of having such good relationships with our county neighbours, our Chamber of Commerce, our recreation partners. The planets are aligning and this is definitely a step in the right direction,” McKenzie agreed.
