Larga Baffin launches contest for new name, logo

Larga Baffin is looking for a refresh.

The temporary boarding facility for Nunavummiut seeking medical treatment in Ottawa has launched a contest to come up with a new name and logo.

Organization members have been discussing updating its name and logo for a few years now, said president Malaya Zehr.

“Not everybody recognizes what the logo is and what ‘Larga’ is,” she said.

Larga Baffin’s logo shows a seal head, president Malaya Zehr said. (Image courtesy of Larga Baffin)

Zehr admits she’s not even sure herself where the name Larga Baffin came from. Her best guess is that it was adopted from other boarding facilities for Inuit across Canada.

“The board of directors wanted to find something that’s more fitting from the perspective of our clients from the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut.”

The current logo for the facility depicts a seal head, but Zehr said she’s looking forward to seeing what fresh designs get submitted.

“There’s an amazing number of talented artists across the north who understand the communities of the Qikiqtani region,” she said.

The organization is offering prizes for the winning submissions: $1,500 for the winning logo design, and $1,000 for the winning name submission.

Applicants must fill out a downloadable entry form found on the Larga Baffin website and have until Dec. 31 to submit their ideas. Submissions should be sent to Zehr at malayaz@largabaffin.ca.

The rebranding of Larga Baffin comes at a time of potential change for the Ottawa organization.

In July, Ottawa city council approved an application from Larga Baffin to build a larger facility closer to the airport that could accommodate up to 350 residents, up from the current 195.

A local community group opposes the build, however, and has filed an appeal of the decision. A hearing date before the Ontario Land Tribunal is set for Dec. 14.