‘Good morning’ social media project out to spread positivity in Regina this summer

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Josh Stewart-Van Dusen’s thing is saying good morning to people — people he passes on the sidewalk, people he sees in the office, whoever, really.

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A smile and a happy greeting can go a long way, said Stewart-Van Dusen, who’s really jazzed to see a campaign based on that simple interaction taking off in Regina this summer.

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He came up with the Good Morning Project with the hope that the simple, sunny phrase could catalyze positive thinking.

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“Regina is an amazing place to call home. And the goal of this whole project is that we want people to realize this,” Stewart-Van Dusen said.

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Impressive uptake

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Since launching on June 3, the Good Morning Project posts to social media a unique fact about Regina, or a video message from someone in the community offering a “good morning” and a thing they love about the city. Anyone can submit a video through the project’s website.

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The Good Morning Project is community-based, run by volunteers and sponsors and, really, is pretty simplistic.

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The idea is to focus on Regina’s best features, including the people, instead of negativity about its shortcomings. Uptake on the idea has been impressive, said Stewart-Van Dusen.

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So far, the Good Morning Project has featured cameos by city councillors, local businesses, institutions like the University of Regina, social media influencers and folks who just enjoy where they live and want to share why.

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Social media engagement has averaged about 500,000 views per month on Instagram and Facebook, he said.

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“I think it’s refreshing for people to realize they’re not being sold anything with this movement. That it’s just doing good to do good, with no expectations,” said Stewart-Van Dusen.

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‘You can control your own perspective’

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The Good Morning Project has also held in-person events, from pop-up dance parties at Scarth Street Mall and painting suns on downtown sidewalks to handing out pay-it-forward cards, free coffee and stickers.

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Volunteers even cruised around Wascana Lake on a boat one day, shouting happy greetings to people on shore who were out enjoying the park.

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“It’s about combating that negative social media that we have all around us,” Stewart-Van Dusen said. “You can control your own perspective, and the city you see today doesn’t have to be the city you see tomorrow.