Canberrans encouraged to rediscover their city’s Heart + Soul


Released 13/08/2020

A new campaign launched this week aims to help Canberrans reconnect with their city’s Heart + Soul.

City Renewal Authority chief executive Malcolm Snow said with Canberrans advised not to travel far from home at the moment, now was the perfect time to reconnect with their city centre.

“We want to reconnect people to the places they know, love and are familiar with, as well as introduce them to somewhere that perhaps they didn’t know about,” Mr Snow said.

“A great city centre is the heart and soul of a city, and we think our city centre is that for Canberra.

“Even in these challenging times our city centre is filled with amazing businesses, run by amazing people who make an incredible contribution to the heart and soul of Canberra.

“Don’t forget we all have a responsibility to be COVID-safe while out and about. Practice physical distancing and good hygiene - keep 1.5 metres away with others, wash and sanitise your hands regularly, practise good respiratory hygiene, and importantly don’t go out if you are unwell.

“Also remember to follow the COVID-safe rules that businesses have in pace, which are not only there to make sure they are complying with the law, but also to make sure we all stay safe.”

Launched this week, “Heart + Soul: Rediscover your city” highlights 11 diverse city centre businesses. It focuses on the people and personalities behind each business, why they love their city centre, what motivates them to do what they do to make it even better. Their stories are upbeat and personal. Like the businesses they own and run, they have substance and meaning.

“These stories will have Canberrans connecting with the people themselves, as well as the businesses. They are about the city centre, its heart, its people and its places,” Mr Snow said.

“These featured businesses are just a small sample of those that make our city centre such a special place and I encourage Canberrans to rediscover it.

“There are many ways Canberrans can reconnect with their city centre - whether that’s visiting the city centre in person (while practising physical distancing and good hygiene) or ordering a meal from one of our fantastic restaurants, shopping online from a local retailer or even just sharing your experiences, memories and stories about the city centre on social media.”

Aligning with the ACT Government’s Choose Local campaign, these locally owned and run businesses represent a cross section of industries from hospitality and health, to retail and human services, located across the city centre from City West, to Civic and Braddon. The personal stories gathered through content and photography will be shared across the City Renewal Authority’s digital channels and in outdoor spaces in the city centre, encouraging visitors, workers and local residents to keep discovering new places in the city and the people that bring life to every corner of it.

Other city centre businesses will be encouraged to get involved by sharing content via their own networks to promote the rediscovery of the city and can use the Heart + Soul campaign assets across their own channels. Businesses and the public are encouraged to post about their city centre experiences using the hashtags #cityrenewalCBR and #CBRtogether.

“It’s a closer look at Canberra city through the eyes of the locals who love it,” Mr Snow said.

The Heart + Soul campaign is funded by the City Centre Marketing and Improvements Levy.

For more information visit cityrenewalcbr.com.au

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