A new look will be waving from the skies above the city hall courtyard.

Although not everyone saluted the new creation, a majority of city council voted in approval May 10 of a new design for the Salmon Arm flag.

City staff provided five samples of potential designs, all variations on a theme, with a recommendation to choose the one with the white background. The printing on the flag included the Salmon Arm wordmark 鈥� 鈥楽almon鈥� in orange and 鈥楢rm鈥� in teal, with 鈥楽mall city, big ideas鈥� printed in smaller teal letters below.

Rob Niewenhuizen, the city鈥檚 director of engineering and public works, outlined how in 2017, 12 local organizations, including the City of Salmon Arm, came together to form a brand leadership team to work on a community brand and marketing strategy.

His report stated 鈥渨ith the common goal of attracting new talent and investment, the team worked with a consultant to draw out Salmon Arm鈥檚 competitive advantages and our unique and authentic story.鈥�

In October 2018, council voted unanimously in support of the 鈥楽mall city, big ideas鈥� brand, and staff were told to gradually change over to the new branding.

The flag鈥檚 turn has arrived.

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The Salmon Arm Economic Development Society鈥檚 samples were based on the city鈥檚 branding guidelines. They included three versions similar to the white one recommended: an 鈥業da blue鈥�, an orange, and a light blue 鈥楲akeshore鈥� background, with the same words displayed in the foreground. A fifth sample had an orange background with the wording placement switched. 鈥楽mall city, big ideas鈥� was larger with 鈥楽almon Arm鈥� smaller as the tagline.

Staff noted bright colours usually fade more quickly, so the white background was the option of choice.

The outgoing Salmon Arm flag also featured a white background, but the words 鈥楽almon Arm鈥� were written rather than printed, and a blue oval above the name displayed a stylized lake and mountain, with sunshine peeking from behind the mountain.

Couns. Sylvia Lindgren and Tim Lavery were opposed to the new design.

鈥淚 wanted a flag that said something about what a great place it was for people and families and community and recreation, and I think we鈥檙e getting a flag that says, 鈥榦pen for business,鈥欌�� Lindgren remarked.

Lavery said he鈥檚 been a full supporter of the branding process, with a substantial portion of his clothing bearing the branding. But he thinks the flag message should be broader.

鈥淭o my mind, broader ideas represent Indigenous heritage, Shuswap Lake, Mount Ida, and the reasons we鈥檙e all here.鈥�

He said he sees the new design as a well-intentioned corporate logo that doesn鈥檛 have a place on the city flag.

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Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond noted the city鈥檚 outgoing flag is also the brand-mark on a white background. She said she sees the change as updating the brand-mark.

鈥淚t is a conversation piece, it is an invitation, it is not colonial, it is not territorial, it is about ideas and acceptance and inclusion and I will very much support this.鈥�

Coun. Kevin Flynn said he is frustrated by comments about not enough public input and described the new flag as a community branding, not a corporate one.

鈥淚 think to ignore the research, the significant public input, the professionals coming up with the branding and the logo, it doesn鈥檛 make sense.鈥�

Mayor Alan Harrison said flags have changed over the years and the new one is similar in style to those of other smaller communities.

He added: 鈥淔lags are kind of personal things. It鈥檚 not surprising we have differences of thoughts鈥︹��