To the editor:
Get rid of the Ogopogo on our float and replace it with the stunning and awe-inspiring theme of “outdoor recreation”?
We could be confused with Revelstoke or Whistler, for Pete’s sake. Who are these people on city staff? Sound like a bunch of whippersnappers to me.
They talk about branding. That’s a very cool and trendy word. Yes, it’s all about branding. Has it occurred to them that the Ogopogo is probably one of the most iconic brands that exists anywhere?
Could you imagine KFC dumping Colonel Sanders? Would Loch Ness ever kiss Nessy good-bye?
I spoke to one of our prominent councillors who agreed that Ogopogo should stay. Maybe a little face lift is in store. And I wonder what our Westbank First Nations people would say? They refer to Ogopogo as N’ha-a’itk. Here’s an excerpt from their website:
“The meaning of N’ha-a’itk is Sacred Spirit of the Lake, not lake demon or monster. If N’ha-a-itk disappears due to pollution and misuse of the water, so do the plants, medicines, trees and foods that sustain us. For this reason, WFN embraces N’ha-a-itk, as is obvious on our logo, as an important figure in our history and connection to the land.”
Ogopogo and N’ha-a’itk are the Okanagan. They have been ever since anyone can remember. If it aint broke, boys, don’t fix it.
Richard Knight, Kelowna
