November 11, 2009
Business park name
debate
by Denise Walker
What’s in a name? Quite a lot, according to Laurentian Hills
Councillors Dick Rabishaw and Dave Ethier, including name recognition
and future business opportunities.
Rabishaw and Ethier represent Laurentian Hills on the joint economic
development committee between the town and Deep River.
They explained to the planning committee that a new sign promoting the
town’s business park will soon be installed. The large sign, designed
by Doug Connelly, will have in large letters “Chalk River Business
Park.”
Chalk River has widespread name recognition because of its association
with Atomic Energy of Canada’s Chalk River Laboratories.
Councillor Anne Giardini didn’t buy the argument. She argued that it
should be called the Laurentian Hills Business Park.
She pointed out to Councillor Ethier that Chalk River is within
Laurentian Hills and that any enquiries the sign generates will be
directed to the town of Laurentian Hills.
Deputy Mayor Fred Adams said he sympathized with Giardini’s point of
view and agreed the town needed to do more to promote the name
“Laurentian Hills.”
Adams went on to say that the reality is that the name of Laurentian
Hills is not well known outside the area.
“We are trolling for people who are not from here, we need something
that promotes the area. Chalk River is known outside the local area,”
said Adams.
In the end, the committee agreed to a compromise. The park will be
identified as the “Chalk River Business Park” but the Laurentian Hills
town logo, which has the town’s name on it, will appear on the sign.
The sign will be lit and visible from both directions on the highway.
The cost is expected to be around $2,000. Ethier said that he hoped to
have the sign installed before winter.
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