At its January 30 meeting, Huntsville Council unanimously approved the new community brand for Huntsville—one aimed at unifying all economic development and tourism initiatives under one design.
In a report to council, staff illustrated various applications for the brand, and in the end, councillors who didn’t really like the look of the brand when it was first introduced last September, seemed to warm to it.
“When I first saw it last year I was taken aback. I wasn’t too crazy about it,” said Councillor Monty Clouthier. “When I see it being used more in the pamphlets, on the vehicles, and on the signs, it’s a lot more refreshing to see it now than just before. When it was out in the newspaper, when I wasn’t sitting in this chair to see it up close being used in different scenarios… it certainly… I like it and it’s a good bold… statement.”
Councillor Bob Stone called it fun and functional and said he loved that it would collectively be used by the Chamber, the Downtown BIA, and the Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association as well as the municipality in certain applications but questioned whether private organizations, such as resorts, could use it as well.
Huntsville economic development officer Laura MacDermid said that would depend on the application.
“So essentially, this is a tourism and economic development community brand so as long as it would fit that kind of criteria, it would be something that obviously we would be willing to collaborate on. Of course, it is something that you wouldn’t just hand out. It’d have to be in collaboration to make sure that it fit the guideline,” she said.
It is not clear how much the final brand cost but the Town budgeted $20,000. Community partners “have been requested to contribute to the project for the amount in excess of the original $20,000 budgeted. Final approval is still being requested through the respective boards,” notes MacDermid’s report to council (pdf).
Councillor Helena Renwick said she was not on council when the brand came out, but unlike Councillor Monty, she loved the brand from the beginning. It reminded her of a similar sign in Amsterdam.
Councillor Dione Schumacher said it has grown on her. She likes the history of how they arrived at the colours and also said she’s happy to hear that the welome sign as you enter the Town will also be kept, thereby somewhat merging the two brands together.
“I agree with Councillor Schumacher. I’m glad to see that we’re maintaining the original Town logos. There’s something to be said about embracing the future but I’m glad to see that we’re maintaining some of the history of the past…” said Councillor Cory Clarke.
Mayor Nancy Alcock said it was great to see more of the logo in different applications. Like Councillor Clarke, she said she’s also happy that the municipality will retain the “old logo and that it’s part of this new bold initiative.”
She called the vote and council voted unanimously in favour of the brand. “What a difference a day makes, hu?” added Alcock.
You can see more design applications HERE (pdf).
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Yes, there is blue. Yes, there is green on the logo. However, I too, fail to see any resemblance to trees and lakes. It still looks like a colourful quilt.
I take it that this new ‘logo’ is an add on to the old one? Is there any way to assess the benefit the town will realize from this? I imagine not. Most recognizable logos develop over time, so I guess this one has its work cut out for it.
I still believe local artists or school art classes could have come up with as good a result. And saved the taxpayers twenty grand, plus whatever the merchants will kick in. You would have had to sort through a lot of offerings, some maybe disturbing, but in the end you would likely have found something respectable. They say you will ‘kiss a lot of toads to find a prince(ss). This would have been a good opportunity to pucker up, and do it here in Huntsville.
It’s okay, just unremarkable. A cutout with colours showing through.
The comments by council seem like they are trying to convince themselves and each other, that it is great. And they did! Another unanimous approval!
I realize sky and water is blue and trees and leaves can be coloured or green, but I’m not imagining any of that here.
Just Huntsville in plaid. Or maybe Madras.
My opinion for sure.
“Doug, if you look again at the colours, you can see how they show a lake and trees.”
You have better or different eyes than I do?
See page 10 https://media-doppleronline-ca.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2023/01/Brand-Presentation-.pdf
“…they show a lake and trees” ???
Anyway, different strokes, very different.
Doug, if you look again at the colours, you can see how they show a lake and trees.
I am not a fan. Does not reflect: outdoors, Muskoka, Algonquin Park, in any way.