OKOTOKS, Alta. — A southern Alberta community that was mocked on social media for a tepid tagline on its tourism ads has won an award for municipality of the year.
The town of Okotoks, just south of Calgary, received the award this week from the Chinook Country Tourist Association.
The award is presented to a municipality that works together to develop, build, promote and enhance tourism in southwestern Alberta.
The town attracted a lot of attention last month when its rather uninspiring slogan was photographed on a Calgary transit train and tweeted out.
#Okotoks: Our Costco line is half the size of Calgary’s pic.twitter.com/pYTqYMIt9I
— Colton Nickel (@PlannerColton) September 24, 2015
“I congratulate and thank our economic development team for all of their efforts in making this a reality and for continually advocating and strengthening our remarkable community,” he said in a release.
What a funny meme! Share ur fun slogans to win a gift basket with ‘things to do in #Okotoks‘! #thingstodoinokotoks pic.twitter.com/n3iRjSu3Va — Town of Okotoks (@townofokotoks) September 24, 2015
“Okotoks: quicker to visit than it is to spell!” #OkotoksSlogans
— CJAY 92 (@CJAY92) September 24, 2015
But an official explained that the catchphrase “There are a number of things to do in Okotoks” was actually a tagline to a larger ad campaign.
Shane Olson, the town’s economic development manager, said Okotoks was enjoying all the attention and residents weren’t offended in the least.
Mayor Bill Robertson praised his people on Thursday.
