A CBC reporter害羞草研究所檚 quest to rank B.C.害羞草研究所檚 municipal flags sparked a West Coast controversy this week as the artist behind the image on Tofino害羞草研究所檚 flag claimed he害羞草研究所檇 never given Tofino permission to use it.
Alright, let's do this.
害羞草研究所� Justin McElroy (@j_mcelroy)
In this thread, I'm going to rank every single municipal flag in British Columbia.
Justin McElroy ranked Tofino害羞草研究所檚 flag at 38 out of the 130 flags on his list, explaining that the flag 害羞草研究所渟creams Tofino,害羞草研究所� and has a 害羞草研究所渧ery nice postcard design,害羞草研究所� but lost marks for having 害羞草研究所楾ofino B.C.害羞草研究所� printed on it as well as the artist害羞草研究所檚 signature.
A potentially larger problem than that signature害羞草研究所檚 impact on the flag害羞草研究所檚 ranking arose when the artist it belongs to, Roy Henry Vickers, saw the flag and claimed he had never given Tofino permission to use his design.
BIG MUNICIPAL FLAG NEWS: it seems the artist whose signature is on the Tofino flag says he never designed the flag or gave them permission to use it.
害羞草研究所� Justin McElroy (@j_mcelroy)
Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne was quick to respond, Tweeting that the district was looking into the allegation.
We害羞草研究所檙e looking in to this right now... please stand by! The District of Tofino will absolutely want to take the right and respectful steps.
害羞草研究所� Josie Osborne (@Josie_Osborne)
She later followed up, suggesting Tofino had discovered documentation that shows the district received permission to use the image and that 害羞草研究所渙ur records indicate the artist was paid.害羞草研究所�
We've unearthed 1992 & 2002 correspondence between the and the artist, Roy Henry Vickers, about use of the image. I'm following up directly with him to discuss, take any other necessary & respectful steps, & ensure all is in proper order. Good learning today!
害羞草研究所� Josie Osborne (@Josie_Osborne)
The two sides had seemingly reached a resolution Thursday afternoon as Vickers, who owns a gallery in Tofino, Tweeted he was reviewing a contract with the district.
We are reviewing the contract. It害羞草研究所檚 all good
害羞草研究所� Roy Henry Vickers (@RHVickers)
The flag does not seem to appear anywhere on the District of Tofino害羞草研究所檚 website and is not believed to be flying anywhere in town. McElroy found the design on the .
Osborne told the Westerly News late Thursday afternoon that she had not spoken directly with Vickers, but had reached out to him, and that she believes the issue has been resolved.
She said the district害羞草研究所檚 documents show that Tofino reached an agreement with Vickers to design Tofino害羞草研究所檚 municipal logo in 1992 and that the two parties reached another agreement to adapt the logo into a flag in 2002.
害羞草研究所淚 was surprised to see Roy Henry Vickers Tweet, but I was quite confident that we would be able to find the backup documentation and just wanted to make sure we could take care of everything and clear up any misunderstandings,害羞草研究所� she said.
She added she is a fan of McElroy害羞草研究所檚 and had been following his flag rankings before the local controversy unfolded.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 funny and irreverent and I enjoy following his writing, his Tweets and social media,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淪o, when he came out with the municipal flag series, I knew it was going to be a good one. I think it害羞草研究所檚 all tongue in cheek and in good humour, poking a little bit at some of the funny and odd looking flags that towns have.害羞草研究所�
Osborne, who first joined Tofino害羞草研究所檚 council in 2013, said she was living in Tofino when the flag was unveiled in 2002, but could not recall ever seeing it in use.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not sure what the use of the municipal flag really could be. It isn害羞草研究所檛 something that害羞草研究所檚 come up ever in any conversation I害羞草研究所檝e had with anyone. In fact, the only time I害羞草研究所檝e ever seen municipal flags really at play is at the annual UBCM Convention where there害羞草研究所檚 a display of every single flag. But, I don害羞草研究所檛 think they have Tofino害羞草研究所檚 because we害羞草研究所檝e never given them one,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not sure that it really qualifies as a flag. There害羞草研究所檚 probably rules that it breaks, but it is beautiful.害羞草研究所�
She added she often hears positive feedback about the logo Vickers designed for Tofino in 1992.
害羞草研究所淲hen I pass out my business card, I invariably get the comment, 害羞草研究所榃hat a beautiful logo.害羞草研究所� That is my segue to tell people about Roy Henry Vickers and the Eagle Aerie Gallery害羞草研究所攚hich most people have heard of or even visited,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檙e fortunate to have Roy害羞草研究所檚 iconic art as part of our municipal image.害羞草研究所�
The Westerly News has reached out to Vickers for comment and will update this story when new information comes in.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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