Halifax unveils “bold” new brand
Posted Apr 16, 2014 06:44:32 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax regional council has voted in favour to change the municipality’s name from HRM to just Halifax.
The majority approved, but some think it’s an unnecessary project.
Coun. Linda Mosher asked council to endorse the rebranding motion, saying our region is in the best position for a clean new image.
“We’ve got so many wonderful projects; the Halifax library, the convention centre going on, there are cranes everywhere, we’re primed to just go ahead and put our best foot forward.
Coun. Gloria McCluskey says she’s disappointed with the focus being directly on the city, rather than on other communities that make up the region.
“We’re certainly a large municipality and we’re only as good as the parts,” she says.
Mayor Mike Savage says he supports the rebranding, and says the new name won’t change or diminish anything about the existing areas.
“I’m a Westphal guy, I’m a Dartmouth man, but Halifax is my city,” he explains. “From the top of my head to my toe nails I’m a Dartmouth guy but Halifax is my damn city, and I think we need to be really, really proud of that fact. Let’s move it forward, let’s get it done and let’s go forward and promote this place for all the things that we know it can be, let’s take that message to the world, and I really think this helps us do it.”
Greater Halifax Partnership CEO Paul Kent helped develop the rebranding strategy, and says it aims to showcase Halifax as Atlantic Canada’s international city.
“We’re very interested in the brand from the point of view of how we understand it locally, but probably most importantly how that brand is expressed internationally as we continue to develop Halifax as an international city,” he explains.
Revolve Branding Incorporated’s Phil Otto says the new brand is as all-encompassing as the mass surveying they did to create it.
“Everyone wants an identity that accurately reflects our personality, our lifestyle and our aspirations,” he says. “It has to ring true to who we are and it has to be able to be used by everyone.”
More than 20,000 citizens provided feedback over a three month period for Halifax’s rebranding project.
Along with a new identity, survey results found that people want better transit, lower taxes, a revitalized downtown area and better urban planning.
