The brand image C'est si bon ! Ensemble • Together is the result of a project that aims to better position Manitoba's bilingual municipalities and to demonstrate the value-added that is the French language in the development of the Province of Manitoba.
The visual (logo and tag line) represents the spirit of openness to the world and also of collaboration which makes the bilingual municipalities of Manitoba ideal places to live and in which to invest. It is also a reflection of the advantages that are derived from using our country's two official languages as well as a recognition of the vitality and heritage of Manitoba's Francophone community.
Welcome!
Objectives of the Brand Image
- Greater visibility for Manitoba's bilingual municipalities;
- Highlight the inestimable value of the Franco-Manitoban culture and heritage as well as the French language;
- Foster relations between Francophones and Anglophones and
- Show that bilingualism is a major asset as well as a value-added in the economic development of the Province of Manitoba.
The C'est si bon ! Ensemble • Together brand image clearly demonstrates the importance of bilingualism towards the economic development of the province. Indeed, Manitoba is well-known for its bilingual workforce and, thanks to the use of Canada's two official languages, businesses are given a distinct competitive advantage in international markets and the opportunity to create new partnerships between Manitoba and businesses located in the rest of the country and abroad.
Under the theme C'est si bon ! Ensemble • Together, the brand image created by the design firm Deschênes Régnier is powerful and dynamic. The promoters of the brand image want people to make this image their own, to be proud of it and make wide use of it. Several options are available to the users of the brand image: banners, various signage, t-shirts, logo on brochures or websites, reproductions on storefronts/ buildings, etc.
A wide-reaching public consultation was held with more than 1,000 people from all age groups and walks of life. In addition to encouraging exchanges between Francophones and Anglophones, the consultation also included a discussion of the value of the French language as well as that of Francophone culture and heritage. The dialogue led to a better comprehension of the respective identities of these two official language communities. With the C'est si bon ! Ensemble • Together brand image, the goal was to create a distinct identity that would result in a better positioning of Manitoba's bilingual municipalities and the potential of its bilingual workforce. Bilingualism is without question a major asset and a value-added in the economy of our province.
For the last few years, the brand image has not only been a boon to economic development but also as concerns French-language education, the recognition of Franco-Manitoban artists as well as for the promotion of business-based (and Francophone) immigration within the bilingual municipalities. The new image has and will continue to help the bilingual municipalities face the challenges of tomorrow and help to bolster the recognition of the Francophone presence in Manitoba. With the help of the C'est si bon ! Ensemble • Together brand image, the bilingual municipalities will be proud of what makes them different and stronger, together!
Timeline
2003-2004 - the CDEM launches the idea for a new branding project under the theme "Un héritage à partager," (A Shared Heritage) which will eventually become today's C'est si bon ! Ensemble • Together tag line, with the goal of demonstrating the value of the Francophone heritage in Manitoba, of bilingualism as well as of the importance of having closer economic and cultural ties between Francophones and Anglophones.
January - September 2004 - widespread consultations are held with Francophones and Anglophones across the province through the use of focus groups and information-sharing meetings in the bilingual municipalities.
March 2005 - design of the final visual concept with the firm Deschênes Régnier.
June 25, 2005 - the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM) goes public with the new branding image of the bilingual municipalities.
June 2005-March 2006 - C'est si bon ! Ensemble • Together pilot project: the new branding image is rolled out in the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie and in St. Boniface.
April 2006-March 2007 - the branding image makes its first appearance in seven other bilingual municipalities and towns in Manitoba: St. Norbert, Montcalm, St. Léon, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, St. Georges, De Salaberry and St. Pierre.
April 2007-March 2009 - the branding image is rolled out in the remaining bilingual municipalities of Manitoba: Somerset, Ste-Anne, Ritchot, St. Lazare, St. Laurent and Lorette.