East Gwillimbury set to get new logo after public contest

The town received a total of 66 submissions from 23 individuals in contest

Yorkregion.com
August 14, 2020
Simon Martin

Bye-bye, beaver. East Gwillimbury is well on its ways to outfitting itself with a new logo. The preferred option which has emerged is combination of two submissions from local residents as part of a contest put on by the town.

There will be no cute animals like beave the beaver in the town’s new logo. The preferred concept includes the letters E and G with a leaflike vine underneath.

For the month of August, the town is soliciting feedback from the public on the preferred logo, which residents can provide by visiting eastgwillimbury.ca.

When the concept was presented to council it received nothing but rave reviews.

“I think you have done a terrific job. I’m really excited that someone from our community has that skill and talent,” Mayor Virginia Hackson said. “(The designs) are fresh and clean and they are who we are now.”

“These look great and I love what we have landed on,” Ward 1 Coun. Loralea Carruthers said.

Last year, the town launched the logo concept design contest. The town received a total of 66 submissions from 23 individuals.

Once the contest was over, staff underwent a review process to determine which submissions met the concept design requirements and then held further consultation with council, senior management and staff to determine next steps. Through the internal review, two preferred design concepts were identified as the preferred design.

“We have seen other municipalities twist themselves into knots and spend a lot of money on a new logo and I have chills with delight knowing we have done such a bang-up job with our resources internally,” Ward 2 Coun. Tara Roy-DiClemente said.

The final phase for this process includes an online survey for residents to select the logo and provide any final comments for consideration. The survey is open for the month of August 2020. Once comments are received, staff will gather the feedback and provide a final report to council in fall 2020 for council’s review and consideration.

Once a logo is selected, the town intends to use a phased-in gradual approach to help limit financial costs. Phase 1 of implementation will include digital platforms, such as digital assets, social media platforms and town templates for letterheads and business cards. Additionally, a number of items have been put on hold pending the new logo, which will move forward. These projects include the new community wayfinding and entry signage, town vehicle branding and uniforms.

The town crest will continue to be used as the town’s official seal for ceremonial use as well as official correspondence, such as facility signs, plaques and bylaws while the town’s new logo will be used for everyday purposes such as branding, marketing, on town documents.

Last year the town embarked on finding a new logo after a council discussion about replacing signs in the community, including gateway signs at Yonge and Green Lane and at Green Lane and Highway 404. The total cost of the sign replacement was estimated by town staff to be in the neighbourhood of $350,000.

Before moving forward with that program, council thought it prudent to review the town’s current logo. “I have lived in East Gwillimbury for 25 years and have never seen a beaver,” Carruthers said at the time.

Roy-DiClemente said that she has been banging the drum for a new logo for some time. “It’s really a question about bringing us into the modern age.”