To the editor:

Get rid of the Ogopogo on our float and replace it with the stunning and awe-inspiring theme of 含羞草研究社渙utdoor recreation含羞草研究社�?

We could be confused with Revelstoke or Whistler, for Pete含羞草研究社檚 sake. Who are these people on city staff? Sound like a bunch of whippersnappers to me.

They talk about branding. That含羞草研究社檚 a very cool and trendy word. Yes, it含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檋a-a含羞草研究社檌tk. Here含羞草研究社檚 an excerpt from their website:

含羞草研究社淭he meaning of N含羞草研究社檋a-a含羞草研究社檌tk is Sacred Spirit of the Lake, not lake demon or monster. If N含羞草研究社檋a-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含羞草研究社檋a-a-itk, as is obvious on our logo, as an important figure in our history and connection to the land.含羞草研究社�

Ogopogo and N含羞草研究社檋a-a含羞草研究社檌tk are the Okanagan. They have been ever since anyone can remember. If it aint broke, boys, don含羞草研究社檛 fix it.

Richard Knight, Kelowna