New Owen Sound Logo Doesn't Suit Everyone

Owen Sound has a new city logo and not everyone likes it.

“I’m not impressed with it,” says one comment to a photo of the new logo posted on a Facebook page. “This is ridiculous. I’m actually sad,” says another.

Jamie Parkin, a resident of Owen Sound, thinks the city shouldn’t have changed the logo. “I think they should keep the old one and maybe just revamp it a

little to say something more about Owen Sound,” she says. “Because Owen Sound is Owen Sound and changing the logo is a big mistake.”

But Councilor Peter Lemon says the new logo is part of a “larger package to market Owen Sound.”

Funding for its creation came from the Rural Economic Development (RED) program which the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs’ website says, “assists with the costs of projects that benefit rural Ontario.”

Lemon says that because of the RED program funding there will be “very little” impact on local taxpayers.

 “For an area that is so creative and beautiful the sign looks plain and boring,” says Owen Sound resident Donna Henry.

The new logo features the word “Owen” in green above the word “Sound” in blue. Below the words is the slogan “where you want to live.” It was designed

by the eSolutionsGroup in Waterloo, something else that some residents are upset about.

 “I guess they don’t have local people who are creative enough to come up with something better,” says one of the comments on the Facebook-posted photo. “They should of [sic] had a local contest to see who could have come up with something better,” says another.

However, Lemon says local companies did have the ability to design the new logo. He says the bid was tendered and city council asked for proposals before determining that the eSolutionsGroup was the best option. Even though local companies did bid on the work Lemon says council couldn’t “just award it to them because they’re in Owen Sound.”

The eSolutionsGroup was selected based on its experience, knowledge and abilities using the same process all municipalities use, he says.

Although many people appear to be unhappy with the new logo, Lemon says that more than 300 individuals, businesses and organizations wereinterviewed about the logo. There were also public meetings. He says the final design was chosen by a public committee and then presented to city council.