No Plaisance for town of Placentia logo, mayor says
Placentia's controversial new town logo will remain the same — disappointing news to some 500 residents who signed a petition, appealing the town to incorporate its French name, Plaisance, into the design.
The town logo underwent a rebranding earlier this year, in an effort to entice more people to move to the community.
And while the town won't be incorporating the name of the province's former French capital into its new design, Mayor Wayne Power says they have reached a compromise.
The French greeting, 'Bienvenue a Plaisance,' will be added to signs near the entrance of Placentia, and certain municipal signs will remain bilingual.
In addition, the town's website will now welcome visitors in French.
Some businesses, as well as the town hall, have French signs posted outside, while street signs are also written in French.
"We had a great discussion and evaluated the pros and cons of the whole concept but, in the end, we made a decision as a council to move forward with what we accepted," said Power. "I'm still standing by that."
Rachelle Connors, head of the Association Française de Plaisance, was upset with the town's decision to alter the logo and went door to door, collecting signatures.
Connors hopes future generations will be just as outspoken when it comes to representing the town's French heritage.
"We will not always be here, but I would like to know that someone has the lead on that and will keep on fighting to keep our history, French history," Connors said.
However, Power said it's not a matter of choosing English over French.
"There were some comments that Placentia was turning its back to its French heritage. I mean, there is nothing further from the truth when it comes to that."
