CALGARY, AB
Just a decade after it first graced the Calgary skyline, the city’s most popular tourist attraction is set to undergo a massive upgrade.
“As it is, the Big Blue Ring just couldn’t keep up with the demand,” said Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek. “It got to the point where we had to make a decision – turn away tourists or overhaul the ring. I think we made the right decision.”
There were several upgrade options including adding a few more letters to the existing O, or taking it to the jeweller to have it resized.
“City council decided that resizing might thin out the metal too much, so we opted to make a word out of it.”
The final decision will be given to voters, who will decide what word to spell, so long as it has an O in it.
“Right now the top contenders are OIL, OLYMPICS, and CALGORY,” said Gondek. “We’re also considering using the O to spell EDMONTON SUCKS, but that might be cost prohibitive.”
Voters will decide the new Big Blue Word this fall in a vote taking place at the King Edward Hotel.