EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Police warn of new twist on phone scam Page 3
Donated sled much appreciated Page 8
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 4 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Help wanted to develop district brand
RFP: District hiring to establish identity and communication strategy. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
The District of Sicamous is seeking a hand to develop a brand. Specifically, the district has put out a request for proposals for the development of a “brand identity and communication strategy.” The RFP sets out a budget between $45,000 and $60,000 for the successful candidate to assist in the “development of a brand identity, including a logo and a visual guide, and a communication strategy for the District of Sicamous.” It notes the district currently has an outdated logo and tag line that do not reflect the community today as a “beautiful, tourism-based centre.” In a memo to council, district town manager Evan Parliament identifies the hiring of a consultant as the ideal way to fulfill council’s objective of initiating a comprehensive comEvan Parliament munication plan and Town manager branding exercise. The two, he explained, represent phase 1 in an over-arching strategy. Phase 2 involves the development of a marketing plan, while phase 3 will address finer details such as a redesign and update of the district’s website and a social media strategy. “First we have to establish a brand and we… have to go through a communication exercise,” explained Parliament. “That’s what this RFP is, and hopefully by mid-February we’ll have lots of interest from some proponents. We’re looking at a six- to eight-month process to come up with a communications plan and a brand for Sicamous – a new brand for Sicamous that will involve public consultation – and then we would launch from that a marketing strategy.” Regarding the branding exercise, the successful candidate is expected to create a distinct, unique brand that will attract investors, visitors and residents, while the communication strategy will “support marketing initiatives and business investment campaigns.”
Loopy lids: Mrs. Peel’s Div. 4, Grade 3 Parkview Elementary students are pleased to show off their chapeaus during the school’s Crazy Hat Day. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Beef supply down, prices to remain high By Tracy Hughes
Eagle Valley News
Low supply and high demand are driving beef prices up across Canada. While the price of produce has climbed this winter, the price of beef is on the rise, and consumers are going to have to dig deeper for quite some time if they want to put a steak on the barbecue or a roast beef in their oven. “Prices are up and supply is way down,” says Askew’s Uptown meat manager Karl Kreipe. “Customers
can be expecting beef prices to stay high for the next six months at least.” Part of the issue is beef has become a world commodity, much like oil and is sold on the markets to the highest bidders. Shipping technology has increased to the point where it is relatively easy to move large amounts of beef to consumers around the world. When there is demand, the product goes to those willing to pay premium prices. Kreipe says drought conditions in many
places in the U.S. caused massive reductions in cattle herds, as ranchers couldn’t afford to keep their animals fed. This has caused a reduction in supply, and U.S. buyers are now coming to Canada to purchase and import Canadian beef products. “Because the U.S. dollar is so good compared to the Canadian right now, a lot of beef is being picked up by the U.S. to satisfy their markets, which is leaving a shortage in ours,” See 4H clubs on page 3
Bull market: B.C. ranchers are benefitting from a low dollar and high U.S. demand. File photo