Rutland fights negative image with new logo

KELOWNA – A group of community representatives have revealed the first in a series of steps they hope will change the negative perception of Rutland.

The Rutland Unified Stakeholders Team unveiled a new logo and slogan Monday that TRUST member Todd Sanderson hopes will refresh how everyday people view the Kelowna community of 35,000.

“Rutland’s roots… travel back to the turn of the century when settlers with names like Gallagher, Goudie and Rutland first came to settle the land,” Sanderson says. “It is today what it was 100 years ago: A community of positive, ambitious, down-to-earth, hardworking people. And yet people, to this day, speak of Rutland disparagingly with an undertone of disrespect.”

Sanderson calls the negative perception of Rutland a self-fulfilling cycle, with realtors encouraging wealthy prospective buyers to spend elsewhere and developers following real estate trends. Meanwhile, Sanderson says, “the good people of Rutland are left to take it on the chin.”

The new logo is a four-colour graphic with a tree, a building and what looks like a barn set above the word “Rutland” in black font. Below it is the new slogan, We’re just getting started.

Sanderson says the design acknowledges Rutland’s agricultural roots as well as the desire to promote business development.

“The Rutland brand is at its heart, positive, forward-thinking and healthy,” he says.

Coun. Gerry Zimmermann is a long-time resident of Rutland. He called the logo clean and well thought out.

“I love the logo," he says. " And it didn’t cost us a whole bunch of money.”

Sanderson admits the effect of the new logo and slogan will likely not be felt for many years but says this is just the first of many steps they intend to take.

“This is less about the Rutland of today than it is about the Rutland of 2019, 2029 and beyond,” he says. “Our best days are ahead.”

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.