Kelowna

The man who created Kelowna's new corporate logo is standing behind his design.

Phred Martin was hired to create a new logo for the city, a logo which was unveiled earlier this summer.

It was discovered earlier this week that a strikingly similar logo had been created by a U.S. design firm, LandDesign for a company called Sunhaven.

What is not known is whether the original logo, which featured triangle shape designs pointing outward rather than inward, had been trademarked or in fact used.

Martin is on vacation in New York and was not available to speak with local media when contacted Tuesday.

Community and Media Relations Director, Carla Stephens, says she has spoken to Martin since the controversy came to light.

Stephens says Martin was shocked when told of the second, similar logo.

She says Martin claims he never saw the first logo and maintains his original inspiration came from the pine cone, the sunflower and Salish baskets.

"I'm hoping to meet with Phred once he gets back into town in the next couple of days," says Stephens.

"I'll also be encouraging him to meet with all of the media as soon as possible."

Stephens says the city is still moving forward in its attempt to trademark the logo.

Link: City's logo has striking similarity