Kitchener mayor defends giving RIM free advertising space

A group of employees walk under the Research In Motion (RIM) company logo on one of their many buildings, in Waterloo, Ontario, on Friday, June 29, 2012. (Dave Chidley / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr says he stands behind the city’s decision to let Research in Motion banners flap for free on city property.

“This is an exceptional circumstance, and to me it was a very simple decision,” he tells CTV.

At a Monday night council meeting, nearly all councillors voted in favour of a request from RIM to provide advertising space around Kitchener City Hall for free.

It’s the first time the city has done that for a private company, but most councillors said they saw nothing wrong with supporting the region’s largest employer.

“I know of no other company in this community who has helped to create the buzz of technology,” says Zehr.

The lone holdout was Coun. John Gazzola, who tells CTV he’s worried about setting a dangerous precedent.

“We have a lot of companies like that. Manulife, Schneiders, they’re in the same board, and I’m sure they would love to advertise there too,” he says.

Gazzola says his vote against the proposal was not a vote against RIM, in which he holds stock.

In advance of the BlackBerry 10 launch later this month, RIM is hoisting banners in Kitchener and in Waterloo, where they’ll be placed on University Avenue and in uptown.

The Uptown Waterloo BIA is allowing an exemption to its banner policy as well, but executive director Patti Brooks says anything that helps RIM will in turn help Waterloo.

“It’s a global launch, it’s not just a Waterloo launch, and we’re pleased to help them with that initiative,” she says.

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig says his city would love to take part in the festivities, but hasn’t heard anything from the company.

In a statement, RIM says it’s planning local celebrations to coincide with the launch as a thank you to the community.

“It’s our own way of saying thank you to local BlackBerry supporters in our own backyard,” says the statement.

The banners will be raised Jan. 30, the same day RIM releases its new operating system.