The Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA) unveiled its new logo, a design that reflects MAGMA’s goal of integrating the diverse parts of our global picture here in the Greater Moncton area.

The Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA) has revealed its new logo, a design that represents the many aspects and services of the organization, as well as, the ethno-cultural associations, individuals and communities it serves.

Mike Timani, president of MAGMA said that it was time for the 32 year old organization to update the logo that it had used for the last 20 years.

The new logo reflects the changes in infrastructure, policies and services that MAGMA has grown to provide. Initially when MAGMA was established there were 10 employees, Timani noted, now it has 34 staff helping newcomers establish themselves and prosper in the Greater Moncton area.

The bilingual logo features the organization’s two official names balanced on either side of six interlocking puzzle pieces of different colours (blue, red, yellow, brown, green and violet) that form a circular ring.

The puzzle pieces symbolize both the multiple services that MAGMA offers and the multiple pieces of the puzzle that a newcomer has to collect and assemble to make a new life in the Greater Moncton area.

The interlocking of the puzzle pieces represent the bonds that people make to become part of a community and how the services MAGMA offers work together.

The bright, friendly colours take inspiration from New Brunswick and the Greater Moncton area. The blue reflects our region’s crisp blue sky, the red and yellow are a salute to the New Brunswick flag, brown is from our beloved chocolate river, green from our abundant green spaces and violet from our provincial flower.

There are six pieces and these stand for the six continents from which our newcomers have come.

The circle, which traditionally represents the concept of one, as in one organization, has an open centre which creates a protected, sheltered area, like what a circle of friends and MAGMA creates.

The pieces also form a shape like a life saver which can be a metaphor for what MAGMA is and does.

The designer of the logo, Richard Osborne CGD, of Clicked By Design, commented on the design process. “I asked the board, staff and clients to fill out a questionnaire to help me identify the organization’s unique needs and how it was currently perceived in the community and by clients. This step allowed all stakeholders in the organization the opportunity to offer their input, which I then used to work with MAGMA’s Community Awareness Committee, to develop and finalize the logo design, to then present to the staff and board.”

Justin Ryan, MAGMA’s Public Education Coordinator, said that there’s one simple message that the organization wants to get across with the new logo, that is: “Welcome to our community. Please become a part of it.”

Every year MAGMA helps close to 700 refugees and newcomers from 62 countries around the world. The work that this organization does is neatly summarized by MAGMA’s slogan: “Enriching our community through diversity.”

The Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA) is an umbrella organization of ethno-cultural associations and individuals in the Greater Moncton Area (serving the communities of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe). Since its foundation in March 1980, MAGMA has remained actively involved in the settlement and adjustment of new immigrants and refugees in our area. MAGMA is a bilingual (both Canadian official languages), non-profit, non-sectarian, and non-political organization.

More information about MAGMA can be found on their website: www.magma-amgm.org

Richard Osborne CGD is the driving force behind Clicked by Design. His marketing savvy, creative skills and business acumen have built a company that provides integrated design, marketing, advertising and communications services to a wide range of clients.