.jpg)
Launch of Ely’s International Mosquito Center project creates online buzz, generates publicity
Ely is already home to museums devoted to wolves and bears.
So why not one to perhaps the area’s most notable insect - the mosquito?
That was the idea Tuesday when word broke, via social media and with signs and banners around town, that Ely would soon to be home to the International Mosquito Center at Whiteside Park.
There was talk of educational exhibits, art exhibits, and breeding pools to bring more mosquitos to Ely, signs with catchy slogans such as “Your Blood, Your Choice.”
Facebook was clearly abuzz with the concept of the development of yet another Ely attraction.
But many of those caught up in the excitement were also aware of the calendar.
The “news” broke the morning of Tuesday, April 1 and proved to be yet another spoof that generated publicity for Ely well beyond the 55731 zip code.
“Yes, today is April first, so take that into account,” city council member Emily Roose said at Tuesday’s city council session.
Roose and the Ely Tourism Bureau’s Abby Dare were among those touting the potential for an International Mosquito Center, and the spoof brought back memories of the years the Ely Chamber of Commerce, with the help of a marketing firm, announced April 1 jokes that resulted in widespread attention.
Despite the banners and signs and social media posts, and sayings including “More Bugs = More Jobs,” there were clear signs that as Roose indicated “this was all in good fun.”
One was the report of “an April 31 meeting to discuss the project” during a month that has only 30 days.
Council members got in on the fun this week, with member Adam Bisbee noting that the city’s parks and recreation committee opposed the project and member Jerome Debeltz joking that he had “a real problem with this.”
“Our claim to fame is the biggest mosquitoes in Minnesota,” said Debetlz. “If we kill all our mosquitoes, nobody will come here to get bit.”
But the council soon put jokes aside, with member Angela Campbell hailing the spoof and noting, “Ely hit the airwaves today.”
“It’s nice to have some April first fun,” added mayor Heidi Omerza.
Roose also saluted those involved, saying “this was not a single effort - a lot of people were involved. Thank you all for having great fun.” As part of an ongoing effort to lure visitors to Ely and put Ely visits on the minds of would-be tourists from across the Midwest, the Chamber of Commerce through a marketing agency has sponsored numerous well-received and highly publicized campaigns.
The first came in 2008, with a “news report” that Canada was buying Ely and annexing it to capture more Boundary Waters tourism business.
Other notable campaigns since then included:
• A failed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games;
• A bid by International Dairy Queen to buy the naming rights to the BWCAW;
• A ban on social media throughout the Ely area;
• The launch of “Canoeber,” the world’s first water- based ride-share service.
• The launch of a new Ely TV channel;
• A ban on drones within city limits;
• The launch of the Original Ely Electric Paddle.
