A stylized image of the West Montrose covered bridge is the new logo for Woolwich Township, the winning entry in a competition to replace the corporate crest.

The design, chosen from the 29 submitted by 13 different entrants, was presented Tuesday night to councillors, who quickly approved the selection. The design was picked by a volunteer panel that included graphic designers, marketing specialists, artists and businesspeople.

The group first reduced the list to 10, then five and two before choosing a winner, economic development and tourism officer Laurel Davies Snyder told council.

Elmira resident Steve Brooks will receive $1,000 for his successful entry.

“I’m overwhelmed at actually winning it – it’s an exciting thing,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “It was a last-minute decision on my part to enter it.”

The logo chosen was one of three he sent in, each featuring an element of Woolwich’s rural character. In thinking about the township, images of the St. Jacobs market, maple syrup and farming come to mind, but the so-called kissing bridge leapt out as an iconic, easily recognized illustration.

“A one-lane covered bridge seems to go well with a small town,” said Brooks, adding he wanted a logo that was simple and could be scaled to various sizes. “The bridge is a nice, strong image.”

Mindful of the many applications – from business cards to the sides of trucks – he wanted something that would work in all cases, able to “stand on its own” without any text.

His submissions weren’t the first logos he’s designed. Brooks works at the Athletics department at the University of Waterloo, where graphic design is part of his job.

The bridge featured in nine of the 29 logos received following the contest’s launch in June, said Davies Snyder.

Brooks’ winning entry was tweaked by the panel prior to being unveiled.

“They managed to keep the concept intact, and improved it,” he noted.

Having been accepted by council, the logo will now be finished professionally so the mechanicals meet all digital standards in colour, grayscale and black-and-white line art form.

While costs were not raised by council, chief administrative officer David Brenneman said in a later interview there will be no quick changeover. Rather, the logo will be used where applicable when replacing signs, business cards, letterhead and the like.

Along with the $1,000 won by Brooks, an estimated $1,500 will be needed to polish up the logo and create digital versions.