Bowen Island apparently believes in the promoterB次元官网网址檚 axiom of "thereB次元官网网址檚 no such thing as bad publicity."

The community, located a 20-minute ferry ride offshore of Greater Vancouver recently approved a with such pointed slogans as B次元官网网址淏owen Island: tell your friends itB次元官网网址檚 awful hereB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淲elcome to Bowen Island, donB次元官网网址檛 forget to leave.B次元官网网址�

The point was to do something edgy that captured the IslandB次元官网网址檚 unique character and fierce protectiveness while emphasizing its identity as an amazing secret that its residents would love to keep.

Not unexpectedly, the campaign hasnB次元官网网址檛 been met with universal applause. Commentary on a reporting on it includes words like B次元官网网址渋gnorant,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渢ypical,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渃liquey,B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渋nsular,B次元官网网址� though itB次元官网网址檚 not entirely clear if the posters are describing the campaign or the island itself.

That said, this initiative appears to be doing exactly what marketing campaigns are supposed to do: get noticed. And it sparked the obvious question: could Vancouver Island communities benefit from the same type of unconventional thinking? Should we try marketing that embraces our perceived flaws?

Consider how more conventional thought hasnB次元官网网址檛 exactly shown a lot of success in giving Vancouver Island communities brands that stick out.

B次元官网网址淒iscover the possibilities,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淢eet and stay,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淕etting here is easy,B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淲ildly sophisticated, economically unconventional.B次元官网网址� If any of these existing slogans immediately made you think of the Comox Valley, you are far more attentive than most.

Thank the marketing gods for finally coming up with B次元官网网址淏etter choices, better future,B次元官网网址� because, really, you canB次元官网网址檛 get much more uniquely Comox Valley than that.

Right?

So with that in mind, are we ready for Duncan: B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e seen the highway strip, how could it possibly get worse?B次元官网网址�

Or Port Alberni: B次元官网网址淥nce youB次元官网网址檙e over the Hump, itB次元官网网址檚 all downhill from there!B次元官网网址�

Or Qualicum: B次元官网网址淭hose under 50 need not apply.B次元官网网址�

The area around the capital would seem to have all kinds of potential for this kind of campaign: B次元官网网址淪o special we need 13 town councils to make it work,B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 life north of the Malahat?B次元官网网址� or how about that timeless classic B次元官网网址淥ur (effluent) donB次元官网网址檛 stink.B次元官网网址�

Out on the west coast we could go with Tofino: B次元官网网址淏eers, bongs, bears, beards, boards, and buckets of yuppiesB次元官网网址� and Ucluelet: B次元官网网址淚f you canB次元官网网址檛 afford Tofino, weB次元官网网址檙e right next door!B次元官网网址�

Lake Cowichan could be up front with the tourist crowd by saying: B次元官网网址淲e want your money, not your drunken tubing and speedboat racing.B次元官网网址� Chemainus: B次元官网网址淲e may roll up the sidewalks at 5 p.m., but those pictures on the walls are there around the clock!B次元官网网址� Ladysmith: B次元官网网址淎void the crowds, visit any day except Light Up!B次元官网网址� The North Island: B次元官网网址淏ecause real men donB次元官网网址檛 do wi-fi.B次元官网网址�

The good folks in Campbell River could tweak their well-established existing slogan into something a little more modern. How about: B次元官网网址淭he where-the-salmon-used-to-be capital of the world.B次元官网网址�

The Hub City, Harbour City and Bathtub Capital monikers all created decent traction for Nanaimo. But if we really wanted to reflect how it is perceived, we could try: B次元官网网址淲here the malls are!B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淎s fun and friendly as our city council!B次元官网网址� or even B次元官网网址淢ore fentanyl than you can shake a syringe at!B次元官网网址�

And it doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to stop at the community level.

For a more regional Island-wide campaign, we could try: B次元官网网址淎 pot shop already on every corner, and itB次元官网网址檚 not even legal yet!B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淐ome for the craft brews, stay for the Lucky!B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淥ld trees, hug one while you still can!B次元官网网址�

Or we could just play it low-key and safe and do what Merville did: simply go with something informative. The slogan for this Comox Valley hamlet is the unforgettable B次元官网网址淢erville: named for Merville, France.B次元官网网址�

How about B次元官网网址淰ancouver Island: Like Vancouver, but with less cars, less pretension, more Island and a better sense of humour.B次元官网网址�

It just might work.

(For a look at some of the existing Vancouver Island marketing slogans, click .)

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