This Is Disruption

We live in a loud and overstimulating world full of competing messages, vying for our attention.  

We scan past ads on social, stream our TV, hit delete, delete, delete in our overflowing inboxes – and then carry on carrying on.  

But sometimes, something just grabs us – stopping us in our tracks. In that moment, a door opens in our brain and we are suddenly – briefly – open to seeing the world in a new way. Before the door shuts again, we can develop a new preference, adopt a new mindset, and even reframe our relationship with something dear to our hearts.  

This is disruption, and it’s what good marketing does. It demands attention, overturns the status quo, and introduces something new. 

It is what the Fundy Quay Development is doing for Saint John.   

Shovels in the ground this Spring will disrupt existing ideas about what kind of place Saint John is. As the buildings come together, re-sculpting our waterfront for visitors, businesses, and residents, we will re-imagine the value proposition of our hometown.   

Among many parallels between Fundy Quay and the construction of Market Square in the 70s and 80s, this is perhaps the most powerful. Pat Rocca’s vision for Market Square was nothing less than a reinvention of Saint John – a legacy baby boomers are still talking about today.  

The risk and investment undertaken by Dr. David Elias and the Fundy Harbour Group will re-start that conversation, compelling us to ask: “What does this development mean for Saint John?” “How will it change my perception of our city?” “Who are we going to be?”  

We need to lean-in these questions, letting that door in our brain open wide.   

Only then will we allow new ways of thinking about our city to take root in ourselves and in others.  

Only then will we let optimism flourish, so it can inspire more change, risk-taking and investment.   

Only then will we embrace and celebrate the fact that whatever’s next for our region will be a crowd-sourced venture.  

That’s how we turn disruption into momentum – and there lies the path to realizing a bright and vibrant future for the region.