The Corporation of Hamilton is ushering in the Spring with a bright, colourful new look.

The city skyline has replaced the traditional crest and the Corporation also has a new name the City of Hamilton, as it enters a new era.

Launching the new brand, Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling said: "The Corporation of Hamilton crest has served us well. However it suggests a staid, former era, closed door meetings and bureaucracy.

"The words on the crest Sparsa Collegit means 'gathering of the scattered'. This crest and motto no longer applies to who we are becoming and where we are going.

"The new look and feel is bold, bright and colourful. The tagline is aspirational and will continue to challenge us all to do the best, be the best, making the best decisions in the long run for the city."

The Royal Gazette's 'A Right to Know: Giving People Power' campaign has urged the publicly-funded organisation to be more transparent and open its meetings up since January 2008.

Last year the Corporation opened its doors to allow members of the public to sit in on meetings for the first time in its 200-year history. It also held a Town Hall Meeting and pledged to make its resolutions public every month.

The next Town Hall Meeting will take place on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Worship Centre, New Testament Church of God, on Dundonald Street.

It will focus on people's concerns and suggestions on safety, sanitation, infrastructure and homelessness in the city. However it will also explore the needs of the people of North Hamilton, who have recently witnessed an upsurge in gun violence.

Mr. Gosling said: "The Members and I will attend the meeting to listen to the residents and business owners in North Hamilton, with the view that together we can find new solutions to the problems and challenges we are facing.

"Everyone who would like to discuss solutions for North Hamilton, particularly residents and business owners, are invited to attend."

The mayor said the rebranding of the Corporation was in response to recent changes in the organisation, with a view to greater democracy and inclusiveness.

"During the last seven months or so, we opened the Board meeting deliberations to the public, sharing our thoughts and decision-making processes," he said.

"Earlier this month we announced that Committee meetings will be opened to allow presentations, suggestions and comments on agenda items from the public for the Committees to consider.

"With greater transparency of our operations and the significant changes that have taken place, we feel it is extremely important to create an image that is in keeping with the direction we are moving as an organisation."

City communications manager Aderonke Bademosi Wilson added: "The name of the organisation also changes from the Corporation of Hamilton to the City of Hamilton. The tagline is 'Hamilton, Bermuda at its best'."

She explained this reflected the aspirational goal for city workers, "to continue to do their best at all times, to ensure those who live, work and visit the city have the best experience possible at all times".

There are eight colours in the logo, representing the opportunities of the city and diversity of its people.

The silhouette of the skyline highlights City Hall and the Cathedral, while in the foreground two sails represent the beauty of Hamilton Harbour.

Mrs. Bademosi Wilson said city workers and trash trucks have already received the new branding.

"The fresh new look is a departure from the previous crest which will only be used on formal official documents," she said.