As mentioned on Friday, VELOCITYWG is our new, weekly design project: simple exercises in unfettered creativity with a common theme that’s near and dear to our hearts: celebrating the streets, suburbs, and cityscape of Manitoba’s capital.

Our first entry is “St. Norbert” by Velocity Creative Director, Karla Burr.

Winnipeg’s southernmost neighbourhood, St. Norbert is named for the first Bishop of St. Boniface, Joseph-Norbert Provencher, home to the extremely popular St. Norbert Farmers’ Market, and landmarks such as the Trappist Monastery, Aisle Richot, and the St. Norbert Catholic Parish.

Karla’s comments:

I grew up very near to St. Norbert, and as teenagers we would go and hang out at the ruins, maybe do some underage drinking maybe enjoy a soda and discuss the works of Proust. So naturally, when I think of St. Norbert, I think of the Trappist Monastery — the image in my mind of a summer evening with the warm sun hitting the face at the golden hour.

I thought of basing the design on the Farmer’s Market, as this is one of my favorite things in the city (as some of you know, I’m the Foursquare Mayor of it). But I think that the Monastery is truer to the history of St. Norbert — especially the french histoire.

So my logo is inspired by the Trappist Monastery’s remaining front facade. The O creates the hole where the rosary window once was.

St. Norbert is a bastion of French-Canadian culture, with a strong multicultural presence that’s typical of Winnipeg. Be sure to try some fresh spring rolls, vinatarta, or an empanada at the Market, and then check out the Buddhist Pagoda behind the St. Norbert Arts Centre.

VELOCITYWG, Rebranding One Great City, continues later this week.

Comments? jay@velocitybranding.com