Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Brand Focuses On Community’s Innovative Nature

The City of Grande Prairie has adopted a brand emphasizing the community’s penchant for being innovative.

Administration was directed Monday to report back with an implementation strategy that will include budget implications and priorities. These include reviewing how the brand connects with other ongoing processes such as the new Municipal Development Plan, the Business Visitation Program, redesign of the website, the 100th anniversary celebrations, and the opening of the Multiplex.

The brand statement is: Opportunities Through Innovation. This is not a slogan, rather an illustration that innovation has touched all aspects of community life from business to education and recreation and culture.

The community continues to be recognized for innovation – the Canadian Federation of Independent Business last fall found Grande Prairie to be the second most entrepreneurial community in Canada.

The brand was developed after several months of research, interviews and polling by Great Destination Strategies.

“The process to establish the brand was important,” says Mayor Dwight Logan. “For it to be enduring, we had to determine what characteristics in the community resonate with people. A brand is what people say about you.”

A Brand Alliance Group, composed of community leaders and representatives of local organizations has begun meeting to help engage the community in adoption of the brand throughout the City.

“I look forward to seeing the brand implemented,” Logan says. “It will help promote Grande Prairie outside our borders and build greater pride within the community. There are many examples in every sector of how this community is innovative. The process of proceeding with the brand is an opportunity to celebrate them.”