VIRTUAL EOGECOMMUNICATIONS ~ www .VirtualEdge.ca Ric Wallace, owner

March 1,2007

Chair and Members Board of Control P.O. Box 5035 London ON N6A 4L9

Re: Proposal to adopt the black as London’s mascot

Dear Chair and Members, Board of Control:

Please find enclosed a report detailing why the staff of Virtual Edge Communications and Victoria-Park.com believe that London, should adopt the black squirrel as its mascot. This report includes petition signatures and reasons for choosing the black squirrel. It also contains information on Kent, , an American city that has adopted London Ontario’s black . Kent’s “Tree City’’ motto is similar to our own “Forest City” motto. We have the support of many prominent people in Kent, who would like to see a partnership formed between our two communities in order to promote our shared mottos and squirrels.

The black squirrel would make an excellent mascot for London as a living, thriving creature, which everyone can see year-round and on a daily basis. While common and plentiful here, by North American standards the black squirrel is relatively rare. Some biologists estimate that only 1 in 10,000 squirrels are black. In communities where black squirrels are common, they may actually outnumber grey squirrels 10 to 1. However, most Americans and many Canadians living outside Ontario have never seen a black squirrel.

The black squirrel’s rarity has increased its popularity to the south of Canada. When something is rare, people often associate it with luck. Ontario black squirrels are now found in select U.S. locations because of American importation of the creatures. In 1902 and 1906, black squirrels were exported to Washington, D.C. Black squirrels have also been exported to Missouri and Princeton University in . In 1961, ten black squirrels from London, Ontario were exported to Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The city of Kent celebrates the existence of their black squirrels with festivals, events, and even businesses named for these animals.

...... 7233 Clayton Walk, .... London,...... _._. Ontario NbP 1V3 Tel (519) 652-9496 Email inf o@virtualedge. ca

~~ VIRTUAL..,..... EDGECOMMUNICATIONS ...... ~ www.VirtualEdge.ca Ric Wallace, owner e To those who ridicule the idea of a black squirrel mascot because they see squirrels only as pests, naturalists know that squirrels are actually “nature’s gardeners,” having planted trees from coast to coast in North America. No such claims can be made about any other creatures. Squirrels also live in trees, which complements our city’s “Forest City” motto.

While the black squirrel as a mascot is unique for Canada, many American communities have embraced the idea of squirrels as mascots. Black squirrels are celebrated in such locations as Council Bluffs, ; Marysville, ; Hobbs, ; and Kent, Ohio. White squirrels have been adopted by such towns as Olney, Illinois; Marionville, Missouri; Kenton, Tennessee; Brevard, North Carolina; and Canada’s own Exeter, Ontario. Many of these communities are small towns. A city the size of London adopting the black squirrel as its mascot would be newsworthy.

In 2002, a delegation asked for the city to adopt Waagosh, the 2001 Summer Games mascot. This proposal was dependent on deciding who would become responsible for the storage and maintenance of the mascot costumes. In more than four years, the city has done nothing to promote Waagosh as our official mascot. Waagosh now simply entertains visitors at Storybook Gardens, leaving London without a visible mascot.

At Virtual Edge Communications, we have been promoting Exeter’s white squirrels (www.WhiteSquirrels.ca) since 1995 and the black squirrels of London (www.Victoria- Park.com) since May 24,2003. By actively promoting the black squirrel as London’s mascot, the city can expect many benefits from increased tourism. Collaborating with other squirrel- promoting communities like Kent, Ohio and Exeter, Ontario could easily bring additional tourists from all over the United States and Canada to our city.

Sincerely,

Ric Wallace Virtual Edge Communications

RW:st Encl.

7233 Clayton Walk. London, Ontario N6P lV3 ~ Tel (519) 652-9496 Email info@virtualedge . ea