Council 'clueless' on municipal branding

Below is a Pass Herald article on 'branding' followed by a reader's response by way of comment on my previous post...


Lindsay Goss - Pass Herald

Talk of branding in the municipality

At the council meeting held on Tuesday, July 17th, the topic of branding in the municipality was brought to attention. Councillor Larry Mitchell said he was in favour of the idea to brand Crowsnest Pass, a decision that was not made at the council meeting.
Mitchell explained that Drumheller is famous for dinosaurs- even having the nickname “Dinosaur Valley”- and Vulcan is famous for sharing the same name as the home world for Vulcans, a fictional species featured in the film and television series Star Trek.

The town of Vulcan has also created space-themed murals and signs, and hosts an annual community-wide Star Trek convention known as VulCON: Spock Days/Galaxyfest.
“Branding is important to let tourists know what we are all about,” said Mitchell. The welcoming board outside of the municipality is a bit of branding that the Crowsnest Pass already has. The boards recognize the municipality’s mining history. “We need to let people know that we are more than just a municipality with a mining past,” said Mitchell.

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Hey John!

Mike is my man. :)

We went to Blairmore Saturday evening to check out downtown and to pick up some groceries. When we saw how bleak and empty the town was, both of us were so disheartened. Mike got riled up enough to take pictures.

Anyways, I HAD to comment on your blog -- did you see the article in the Pass Herald regarding the talk of branding in the municipality?

OMG, I literally cannot believe the sheer stupidity of this council! From the article: "Councillor Larry Mitchell said he was in favour of the idea to brand the Crowsnest Pass...Mitchell explained that Drumheller is famous for dinosaurs - even having the nickname "Dinosaur Valley" and Vulcan is famous..." for its affiliation with Star Trek.

Drumheller has Dinosaur Valley, we HAD Thunder in the Valley. I mean, does anyone else not see the obvious parallel? How on earth do these councillors even function as normal human beings? Do they actually THINK before they speak?

Crowsnest Pass HAD a powerful, successful brand and this council threw it away. Unbelievable that now there is discussion about "letting tourists know what we are all about." What is that exactly?

A ghost-town with a council that killed a wildly successful event? An event that still had oodles of police officers handing out tickets to the dismal local/tourist turnout? A town where the local firefighters feel so alienated and angered that they actually boycott our local parade?

I am literally gobsmacked -- I cannot believe that Counciilor Mitchell has the gall to talk about branding and successful branding strategies in other communities...What does he want? A brand that is good, but not TOO good?

This council is weak and has no leadership -- this whole blame game between council members and the public would be laughable if it weren't so disgusting. There is zero dialogue between the mayor and council and the public.

I am ashamed that I voted them in. I am embarrassed that these clucks (to use a favourite expression of my Dad's) represent me and the Crownest Pass. The mayor acts like a 3 year old throwing a temper tantrum -- I mean seriously, that letter that went out with the intent to inform the public of the council's decision to kill TITV was a joke.

His profligate use of quotes about people in coffee shops gossiping -- I mean really? I thought I was watching a Brittany Spears interview when she kept using air quotes.

All this council has focused on is telling us all the reasons why Thunder in the Valley can't work here. Larry talks about how Vulcan holds a "community-wide Star Trek convention." Wow -- we had a community-wide event too, Larry. We HAD it. You KILLED it. We do not need to re-invent the wheel.

Julie



Comment: Nothing pissed me off more this past weekend than to see proceeds from the 50-50 draw go to the Coleman Museum. Nothing against the museum per se but when are we going to say enough is enough with throwing good money after bad down black holes that swallow it up with nothing to show for it at the end of the day but dead entities that only old farts seem to be interested in, while ignoring the living. The Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club, the group trying to raise money to build a community centre, etc., etc. are all worth while entities that could have been supported in its place. Instead, we continue down the road of branding 'heritage' at the expense of everything else.

I think we have more than enough by far of heritage buildings, events, etc. that a line has to be drawn between catering further to a very small elite segment of our population that appeals to only a limited few of the general public (including tourists) at the expense of everything else, while ignoring opportunities to promote those things such as Thunder in the Valley that not only celebrates life and the living but by its very 'brand' appeals to a bigger, wider and more appreciative audience by far. While at the same time being a 'huge' revenue generator (rather than a bottomless money pit) that puts us on the map with a 'branding' that has successfully promoted this community not only regionally, provincially and nationally, but internationally as well. We are the 'envy' of most towns and cities, who spend vast fortunes hoping to achieve what this council has taken for granted, and thrown away haphazardly like so much rubbish? Talk about fool-hearty stupidity and incompetence!

How does this council spell SUCCESS? Are they that inept that they do not recognize 'successful branding' as it already is with Thunder in the Valley? Killing the 'golden goose' and starting from scratch or going back into a dead past nobody but them and their kind cares about is not the answer.

It seems we have an old-fogies mentality running things here for them and their kind, at our expense. Until that changes nothing else will!

Branding a dead past with limited appeal, while ignoring a living, thriving present having untold future possibilities and potential is fool-hearty, as this past weekend has proven without a doubt.

Mayor and Council need to get with it and learn from this weekend's lessons and mistakes, or else step down as they are obviously out of touch with modern reality and good old-fashioned common-sense. In other words, if you can't do the job then get out, and let those who can, get it done for you.




The past is to be respected and acknowledged, but not to be worshiped. It is our future in which we will find greatness.