Editor:
I thank Tucker Forsyth for stating the obvious in his July 11 letter. Gibsons’ “Best Water in the World” award was indeed a clever PR coup.
In fact this “brand” — as it is now referred — was quickly and eagerly adopted by many Gibsons businesses — restaurants, hotels, B&Bs, local shops, tourism promoters, real estate agents — who understood the simple yet powerful distinction this recognition provided us. It was profile that money couldn’t buy.
In fact I believe we all felt a sense of pride at how such a small investment paid such fabulous community dividends. And yes! Let’s be clear to distinguish pride from vanity. This was an award for us all and not just a prize over which some keen mayor could gloat. That said — it sure felt great winning!
We all won once more when we achieved global respect in 2009.
The UN’s LivCom recognized Gibsons twice — for its superior planning and its marvelous liveability. As a donor financed undertaking, and not some trivial taxpayers’ paid junket, we all again got to share in our mutual success upon which we hoped to prosper accordingly and appropriately. Many Gibsons businesses today use this international esteem as a piece in their marketing. And why not?
Our challenge will be to continue to pursue our quest for excellence and re-establish our community pride by seeking out and upholding our finest attributes in an ever increasingly competitive world. When we do so we can all continue to share in building on the worthy foundations of our authentic successes whether by our own astute design or those fortuitously provided to us by Mother Nature.
Barry Janyk, Gibsons
