Editor:
The branding the city and its consulting company have come up with for this city is most appalling to me. A resident should be proud of the city where they live. Don’t forget residents also market the place where they live.
I’ve spoken to some longtime residents, the backbone of this city, who have stayed through the hard times and good times and helped build this city. These folks also feel the same as I do. Our city is warm and welcoming to anyone moving here or just passing through.
What is wrong with what we have or represent? I am proud of our town at the moment but not if this passes. People move here and work here because this is what they are looking for.
I would like to take you back a few years, just in case you do not remember what is was like after the Second World War.
We had families who went to war. Some did not return, so we could live in a free country. The word Republic was a communist word I would hear as a kid, for a town or city run by a communist government.
Is this what this town is coming to? There are many other ways of saying who we are; we have been doing that for years. Seems we haven’t done a bad job of it, either.
Without a doubt we are the Capital of Western Heritage and Culture. For the branding to say “Republic of Life” does not say anything to me other than the losses we had during the war years.
I feel the council, at this point, has insulted our forefathers who lost their lives or health. How can you justify this?
I feel that you and your council have spent tax monies frivolously. This money should have been put towards policing, maintenance of our streets, sidewalks and other repairs this town is in desperate need of.
How can you market our city that always seems to be falling apart somewhere and the work that needs to be done is always being set aside because there is no money?
Rebranding will not change the way our town looks. Can you honestly justify the spending of an excess of $40,000 on this project? Do we really need or can we afford rebranding at this expense?
Rossetta Paxton
Williams Lake
Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter was sent to mayor and council.