Good advice, Mr. Burns

“O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us.”

The old bard wasn’t speaking of Halifax when he wrote those words; in fact he was alleged to be referring to a louse in a woman’s hair at church. Nonetheless, it is always good advice to try to understand how other people view us.

I suspect that usually it is less positive than we might hope, but sometimes we might be surprised that we judge ourselves more harshly than we should. In the past week I have spoken with hundreds of people who are visiting Halifax for Web.com golf, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Jazz Fest and much else. In the paraphrased words of Sally Field, “They like us, they really like us.”

I often tell people that the constant challenge as Mayor is to embody the great optimism I feel for the City while not forgetting that we must keep knocking down the obstacles to even greater success. But the fact is that we have an amazing place here.

On a short stroll last Wednesday evening from City Hall to the Maritime Museum (for US Consul Richard Riley’s annual Fourth of July soiree) I stopped to chat with three groups of tourists who are in Halifax for the Tattoo. They were visiting from Washington State, Massachusetts and Florida. Some were first time visitors; others had been coming for more than 20 years.

They were effusive in their praise, calling Halifax the most beautiful city they had seen. Players, officials and spectators from the Web.com were similarly impressed. One of the pros from Mexico called it the nicest city he had visited on Tour, and they all enjoyed the restaurants, bars and diversity of our downtown, and shared how excited they will be to come back.

I have blogged before about how visitors love to come here….from visiting naval fleets to convention delegates. We may have to just accept that we have a great piece of the planet here in Halifax, and Nova Scotia. And yes, we can make it better.

If people love to come here let’s give them every reason to do so.

Halifax is hosting more events than ever. We had the very successful golf tournament at New Ashburn and we have Davis Cup tennis in the fall. We have Hockey Day in Canada, and the Men’s university hockey championships this winter. Then in early 2015 we have the Ford World Men’s Curling championships. We will host our second We Day for in November and the 2015 Canadian Country Music Awards too.

It is a busy and wonderful schedule of events. Events like these matter, because they bring people to Halifax, and that is what we need.  Along with our universities, our business sectors are also opening up opportunities for people to not just visit, but to stay. The Nova Centre and new Central Library will do the same.

The next time you are cranky about Halifax, find someone who is eyeing their map or needing directions. Ask them what they think of Halifax. See us through their eyes, and be proud.

We have an amazing city which will only get better when we believe in ourselves.