Welcome everyone! The purpose of this site is to elicit comments on the re-branding process that the West Shore Chamber of Commerce has initiated.

Over the next four months, starting February 2008, we are going to look at whether the term West Shore describes our community accurately enough. Some people still call the region the Western Communities, others combine the words Westshore, some even capitalize Shore, making it WestShore. Others ask "the West Shore of what?". Should the region be called something else?

It may be that the term West Shore does work, but perhaps it needs some help from a tag line that explains it more fully. What about a logo that shows people what sort of community we are?

These are all the things we will discuss on this site. Feel free to give your opinion, join any, or all of the discussion groups. After all, it's your opinion we want!

Update: April 16-2008

Check out first draft logo concepts on the photo page!

It has been almost three months since the branding process started and we have come a long way. Mike Wicks, our branding consultant, has met with dozens of politicians, business and community leaders, and members of the public. He has walked the streets garnering opinion from people from all walks of life, of every age and from all parts of the West Shore. From these interactions he was able to create a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis of our community and discover what really makes the West Shore one of the premier places to live in B.C.

A community branding group was put together representing a cross section of the community. The group has met twice for a total of six hours, brainstorming every aspect of the West Shore and looking for the essence of the region, the heart and soul if you will, which can be captured in a logo and a tag line that can then create the brand.

After the first evening the graphic designer, working with Mike, came up with nine draft logo images based on what had come out of the previous session. The group were pleased that the initial images reflected the input of the group, which was that the West Shore is a great place to live, and that one of its best assets is its natural surroundings, including the ocean, parks, lakes, trails and its overall ‘greenness’. As a result, one of the most popular draft logos featured five leaves above the name WestShore. The general opinion was that having the name as one word with the ‘S’ in shore capitalized was the most effective. The five leaves of different colours represented the five municipalities. The group did ask the branding team to look at using Arbutus or Garry oak leaves instead of the stylized ones in the draft logo.

The other favourite logo was one that showed hills, water, a rising sun and the outline of Royal Roads University. Much discussion surrounded this draft logo and it was decided that the group would like to see a version with Fisguard lighthouse instead of, as well as with RRU.

Another contender featured the words West Shore beside a map of the region, although the feeling was that this needed a lot more work to make it effective. The logos that were shown to the group at the first meeting are shown below.
A lot of time has also been spent on looking for a tag line that will accompany the logo. Current favourites include: Embracing Life, Naturally; Embrace Life, Naturally; and The Art of Island Living.

The next meeting will be held on April 23rd at Royal Roads University and the group will be presented with versions of the previous logos that have been refined based on the comments of the group. Further discussion will surround descriptors to come up with a number of possible tag lines.

Once the group has decided on a short list of logos and tag lines, these will be displayed at the Chamber offices so that the public can comment and vote on which ones they like best. A final choice will be made by the end of June and launched by the Chamber at the end of the summer.

Update: February 21-2008

I thought I would update everyone contributing to this site. We have positive feedback from several quarters and now have a liaison person for both Langford and Metchosin councils. I am in the process of meeting with key stakeholders. I am also putting together our core community group. This is a group of 25 people who represent all our communities and all demographics within those communities. This group will meet for 3-4 evenings over the next four months to help us identify the new brand. The first meeting is scheduled for March 11, so please, if anyone would like to be a member or knows someone who might, please contact me at mpwicks@shaw.ca.

We have been receiving some positive media coverage from the Times Colonist and an article will be appearing in the Goldstream Gazette soon.

Watch this site for more updates.