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Technically beautiful, but marketing-challenged

Does this mean Ottawa is technically ugly?

Pity the poor Ottawa Centre for Research & Innovation, which finally threw in the towel yesterday after trying to come up with a slogan for the nation’s capital that would reflect its technology focus and attract investors. Their choice, “Technically Beautiful,” was an instant flop, attaining the kind of in-joke status among industry types that “Wasssup?” gained among Bud Light customers last year.

The National Post today quoted Ottawa city councillor Alex Cullen today saying, “It became an object of ridicule on the street. It also become a parlour game trying to come up with a better slogan.”

The OCRI and the Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority have since decided not to replace “technically beautiful” and to carry on without a slogan. But that doesn’t mean the parlour games have to end. You can send me your ideas, while I offer mine. Herewith, my top 10 choices for the new Ottawa IT slogan:

 

10. Digital Capital (with apologies to Don Tapscott)

9. The Broadband Boom Town

8. Wireless, But So Much More

7. Silicon Valley Bore

6. IT’s Gorgeous!

5. Fibre-optic and Fabulous

4. Pretty and Plugged-In

3. The City So Nice, You’ll Log On Twice

2. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Redmond

And the #1 Ottawa IT slogan to attract investors:

1. Marlen Cowpland Slept Here

sschick@plesman.com

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