Dear Editor,

In response to the front page article of the Merritt Herald on Feb. 20, I too signed the petition and totally agree with the comments of Marguerite Kempin … very well put! I also agree that an open house should have been held before a new brand was accepted by council. So who are the 140 community members that were chosen for the workshops and focus group? What about the other approximately 7,860 of us who inhabit the Nicola Valley — why weren’t we invited for our input to attend this lengthy process in which a new brand/tagline was devised?

I think a brand should be aimed at young and old alike as we and others who visit our community all enjoy the recreation and interests that Merritt has to offer.

On page two of the article, Mayor Roline commented that the city doesn’t market or brand to us residents. Why not? Don’t you want us to be ambassadors for our community? She says it’s because we already know why we live here and love our community. I think she is wrong in assuming this. Do we really know? Do we know how or what the City of Merritt is trying to represent us and our community as, as a whole? I think we’ve all been a little confused about this question for some years now as brands, taglines and agendas keep changing.

The article handed out when I signed the petition showed another option: “Merritt: Heart of country.” Go on to any website that speaks of Merritt and you will read the words “The heart of the Nicola Valley.” For example, hellobc.com, bcadventure.com, bailliehouse.com, and yes, even on the tourismmerritt.com site it says on the home page “experience the heart of country.” If you do a search on the city’s website (merritt.ca) with the words “heart of country,” you will find in various locations the words “Heart of Merritt, of the Nicola Valley, of the Coquihalla Highway.” Check it out.

Have you ever listened to the words of Huey Lewis and the News song The Heart of Rock and Roll? We could take some of the words from that song and what they represent, add some more and hey, maybe produce a new Merritt song, only in our case it would be “Merritt: The heart of country is still beating!”

I vote for the tagline and branding “Merritt: Heart of country,” which already encompasses the attitude and spirit that we are trying to convey to locals old and new alike including our visiting tourists. It already encompasses what Merritt is about; our heritage; our pioneers; our mining, ranching and forestry, which all helped build Merritt to what it is today; all our recreation; all our awesome talent from music to saddle-making; our beauty and tranquility that is just a stone’s throw away; our good hearts and kindness for others. It describes what we are and what we have to offer. It says the heart of Merritt is still beating, we’re open for business and tourism through all chambers leading to the heart of the Nicola Valley in the southern Central Interior of B.C. … in the heart of country!

I want to thank Councillors Baker and Christopherson for their comments in the Herald’s Tuesday, Feb. 18 edition on how they were hesitant to go forward without getting public input first.

Joanne Street

Merritt

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Dear Editor,

I’m wondering if the city and TOTA have looked up the meaning of “with attitude”? “With attitude” means with an arrogant or hostile state of mind or disposition. I hardly think that’s how we wish to be seen.

I sent the new brand out to a few intelligent friends in other communities, and following are their comments:

“Attitude reminds me too much of Rob Ford. Keep looking.”

“When I hear ‘Country with attitude,’ I think of North Korea.”

“When I first read it, I actually read ‘A country with attitude.’ And then I thought, but Merritt’s not a country.”

“It engenders no visual — need something that conjures up a picture — Merritt abounds in beauty.”

What was wrong with “Merritt: Heart of Country?” To me, that says all that needs to be conveyed about our beautiful valley town: kind, friendly people; love of environment; love of country in all its positive connotations: peace, quiet, respect for the land; “lots of land under starry skies above.” All visitors I know come here to get away from it all, to “listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees.” The last thing they are looking for is attitude.

We don’t need to create anything. We already have it all.

Jackie Stibbards

Merritt