Welcome to the Grande Prairie Branding Page

Public Invited to Help Build Brand

 

Grande Prairie residents are invited to help showcase the community’s innovative culture – and qualify for a prize in the process.

 The development of the logo, slogan and design elements by Deschenes Regnier this fall will provide Grande Prairie with its own visual identity. At the same time, the City wants the public to share its thoughts and ideas about innovations in our community.  This will allow residents to understand and embrace the brand.

 Click here to see how residents can participate!

 You are asked to submit the imaginative ideas and innovative achievements that have put The Grande in Grande Prairie. Submissions must be received by Aug. 31 to qualify for prizes which include a membership at the Multiplex when it opens in fall 2011.

 There are many examples of innovation to be found in all sectors of the City – from business to education, arts and culture, and recreation. For example, there will be recycled running shoes used in the construction of the floor in field house at the Multiplex.

 Crystal Park School was a leader in the integration of Special needs students into regular classrooms.

 In fall 2009, The Canadian Federation of Independent Business called Grande Prairie the second most entrepreneurial city in Canada.

 Entries in the contest are encouraged from all ages, on an individual, family, organizational or community basis. The goal is to portray Grande Prairie ideas and innovations from the past, present or anticipated in the future.

 Categories may include:

·         arts and culture

·          health and education

·         business

·         science and new technologies

·         social and community services

 Submissions can be mailed to the City of Grande Prairie labeled Grande Ideas, P.O. Bag 4000, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 6V3.

 Entries can be emailed to grandeideas@cityofgp.com.  Submissions may be faxed attention Grande Ideas, 780-539-1056. Deschenes Regnier plans to create an online and print booklet featuring the submissions.

 Watch for other opportunities to participate in building the brand, including an upcoming blog and Facebook.

 

Development of City's Brand

 

The Nature of City Branding

All places have a brand whether they like it or not. Brands are simply what others think of you and what you may think of your own city. Successful community brands begin with the community residents, how they see their owClick here to see a final copy of the Brand Recommendations

For more information email info@greatds.comn city and their vision of what they want it to be. In some cases, new development may be needed to create the city’s vision, but in all cases future development should support the selected vision. Logos and slogans are not brands, they only represent the brand and what it promises.
 

Why Brand Grande Prairie?

There are several reasons to define a brand for Grande Prairie. 

1. To reflect how the Grande Prairie community identifies itself and its vision for the future.

2. To communicate with outside investors and visitors what you are known for - the lure that will bring them to Grande Prairie.

3. To identify your uniqueness - what differentiates you from other communities.

 

Branding Concepts

1. Branding a community is not a quick fix. Because brands are more about what others think of you than what you say you are, brand building takes time.

2. Brands are a promise, so communities must deliver on that promise, even if it's to its own residents.

3. Brands must deliver something tangible, every time. While brands may incorporate history or legacy, these alone are not a strong brand.

Share Your Thoughts With Us

Great Destination Strategies, LLC (GDS) have been brought in as consultants to help the City and community move through this process.

There are several ways you can participate in the Grande Prairie Branding Process.

1. Attend the Public Workshops

2. Read about the process on this website.

3. Send us your comments via email direct to the GDS consultants at info@greatds.com 

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Elements of the Grande Prairie Branding Project

1.     Education: Prior to soliciting input by the community, GDS will conduct two educational workshops that will orient the city staff and the general public as to the principles and methodologies of community branding in order than they might have a context in which to deliberate and offer their opinions, comments, suggestions and visions.

2.     Field Reconnaissance: GDS will conduct a thorough on-site reconnaissance of Grande Prairie based on years of experience in identifying attributes and limitations relevant to brand considerations. They will also examine the community from “the visitor’s point of view”, to reveal branding opportunities.

3.     Research Review: GDS principals will review existing research regarding the socio- and demographic landscape of Grande Prairie’s geographical sphere of influence for clues as to the impressions, needs and desires of potential markets of the Grande Prairie brand.

4.     Prior Efforts: GDS principals will review existing municipal documents relevant to community visioning and development in order to determine what has been done before, what has worked and what has not.

5.     Community Participation: GDS will provide the community, its stakeholders and residents several ways in which they can provide input into the community branding process. These include both structured and unstructured opportunities, and at all points during the process. These are:

a.     Personal, face-to-face interviews

b.     Informal Q & A discussions at the end of two educational workshops.

c.      Invitations to provide the consultants direct input to th company email address.

d.     A structured online survey available to residents and stakeholders that asks specific questions with a choice of answers AND places for comments by the respondents.

e.     GDS will employ its proprietary “Importance/Performance” Analysis in Grande Prairie to measure how well the community is doing on a variety of services that help constitute a community brand.
 

6.     Recommendations: GDS will present its findings and recommendations to the community.

a.     Findings will include aggregated summaries of research, interviews, comments and survey results.

b.     GDS will present our recommendations for Grande Prairie’s community brand, and a rationale for the recommendations.
 

7.     Feedback: The Grande Prairie community will have an opportunity to provide comments and feedback on our recommendations.
 

8.     Final Presentation: After receiving and considering responses to our recommendations, GDS will prepare and present in slideshow format and printed form, a final document to Grande Prairie.

The Project Schedule