Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle says the new flag should “represent our shared values, aspirations, and pride for what makes Vancouver special”
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle is asking the citizens of Vancouver to get creative in designing a new flag for the city.
A new flag? You mean, there is an old flag?
That seemed to be the consensus on a video report that the mayor and the city presented at the State of the City event held Monday at Firstenburg Community Center.
“We also want to take a moment to hear from some of our fellow residents about one of the unique but perhaps misunderstood pieces of this city’s identity,” Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said as she introduced the video.
A “man on the streets report” asked people their opinion of the current city flag. Many had never seen it, and others had no idea what the flag was for or represented.
“To me, this doesn’t say anything particular about Vancouver,” one resident said.
“I think a good idea would be to find what symbolizes Vancouver, what makes Vancouver special. Like, what makes Vancouver Vancouver, you know,” another resident said.
The current flag in question was behind the Mayor as she gave her speech Monday, along with the American flag and the flag of the state of Washington.
After the video, all eyes were on that city flag.
“People think it’s supposed to be an eagle with a seagull’s head,” the mayor said, with the crowd laughing at the description.
“The community and the city have undergone tremendous change and growth since that flag was adopted 32 years ago,” McEnerney-Ogle said. “If our flag is to symbolize our community, it should represent our shared values, aspirations, and pride for what makes Vancouver special.”
With that, the mayor announced a design competition to create the next city flag.
The rules for the competition are on the city’s website: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/help-design-vancouvers-next-flag/
Entries are due by midnight, June 14 — appropriately on Flag Day.
The goal is to present a new flag for the City Council to adopt by the fall.
“We invite you to reflect on Vancouver’s future and consider what symbolizes and represents our community,” McEnerny-Ogle said. “In a time of uncertainty, rallying together around what unites is so important.”
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