Municipal officials have selected a community-based team to give Squamish's branding a tweak.
On Monday (Jan. 6), the District of Squamish announced members of the Brand Development Committee. For nine weeks the working group will lead the charge in finding a new marketing face for the town. The committee will be aided by market researchers Roger Brooks International.
The district received 30 applications for the committee's six available citizen seats, the district's economic development officer said in a statement.
"It's a very strong group that we believe will represent the community well," Dan McRae said.
The committee includes stakeholders from the Squamish Chamber of Commerce to the Squamish Art Council and Squamish Nation. It's a talented and capable group, representing a broad range of interests within Squamish, Mayor Rob Kirkham noted.
"I believe we are in excellent hands as the Squamish Brand Enhancement and Marketing Project kicks off," he said.
The project got on a roll with a public meeting at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park on Wednesday (Jan. 8). Those in attendance were asked for initial input. Details were not available before press deadline, but will be in next week's Chief.
For the next three weeks, the district is also hosting an online survey to allow for public comment. The questionnaire is available on the project page at Squamish.ca/brand.
The committee includes:
Glenn Davies, owner of the Ledge Café and board member of the Downtown Business Improvement Association;
Elliot Moses, Squamish Chamber of Commerce executive director;
Lesley Weeks, Tourism Squamish executive director;
Alice Guss (Tsawaysia Spukwus), Squamish Nation educator;
Michelle Neilson, member of the Squamish Arts Council; owner of Mclean Meats and citizen representative;
Christy Allan, Expand Marketing Group owner and citizen representative;
Deanna Bell, Britannia Mine Museum director of sales and citizen representative;
Jeff Cooke, Squamish Off Road Cycling Association president; Chamber of Commerce board member, Bark Busters owner and citizen representative;
Tracey Saxby, Imagine Squamish creator, Greener Footprints co-founder and citizen representative;
Stephanie Wells, Capilano University School of Tourism Management, Business and Communications instructor, program convenor and citizen representative;
Patricia Heintzman, District of Squamish councillor and committee/council liaison;
Randy Stoyko, District of Squamish general manager of business and community services;
Dan McRae, District of Squamish economic development officer;
Christina Moore, District of Squamish, manager of communications.
