Community Engagement

Develop a public engagement policy that ensures issues of engagement and participation are considered as part of all decision-making processes.

Islands Trust has developed their own set of engagement principles for engaging with Indigenous communities. Principles include a commitment to learning more about Indigenous culture and history, as well as a commitment to reconciliation.

In 2010, the Capital Regional District (CRD) developed a Public Participation Framework that articulated the CRD’s commitment to public participation process “in the development and delivery of public policies, programs, legislation and services.” The framework also commits the CRD to promoting “a consultative culture across all departments and divisions.” 

Support municipal staff in incorporating public engagement processes in the development of new initiatives.

In 2007, the City of Port Moody developed a Public Engagement Toolkit[.pdf]  to ensure that a resource was in place to provide a range of flexible public engagement options (used separately or in combination) to engage Port Moody residents in the activities and decision-making processes of the City.

Encourage ongoing engagement with the public in the formation of municipal strategies and programs.

In 2005, the Town of Gibsons initiated the Gibsons Community Dialogue[.doc]—a dialogue session held every month at the town office. Led by the chief administrative officer, who championed the idea, the sessions provide an opportunity for residents to discuss matters of general interest to the community or focus on current issues, bylaws, policies, or other matters under consideration by council. These dialogue sessions have not replaced formal decision-making processes but provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion of municipal issues and initiatives. 

Utilize engagement methods that ensure effective communication of civic information to community members.

The District of Maple Ridge won an honourable mention from the UBCM for its use of social media to engage with community members when the Fraser River crested to potentially dangerous levels in June 2012. The District’s website was quickly reconfigured to create a “one stop” portal for information and links to the BC River Forecast Centre, Environment Canada, and Facebook and Twitter pages. This supported first responders and field crews by providing up-to-the-minute information to citizens in their homes and offices.

Use unique strategies to involve youth and other hard-to-reach groups in decision-making.

The Township of Langley developed an extensive public engagement program to broaden and diversify community participation in the development of their new Social Sustainability Strategy. The engagement activities in Phases 1 and 2 of the project involved a variety of formats, were held in different areas of the Township, and targeted sub-populations that are often underrepresented in engagement processes.

In 2011, the City of Williams Lake initiated a junior council, composed of youth from the community, to play an active, on-going role in decision making. Junior council members meet regularly and have a special table to observe city council meetings. Members also participate in committees of city council where they have a voice but no vote. The junior council works to achieve yearly learning goals and to complete a project chosen by junior council members. Eighteen youth have participated in the junior council since its inception.

Utilize engagement methods that encourage ongoing participation and input into civic discussions and deliberations.

In response to recommendations from its Engaged City Task Force in 2012, the City of Vancouver established Talk Vancouver, an online space for civic participation. Talk Vancouver is the online home for a community panel of Vancouver community members that provides ongoing, in-depth feedback on civic issues utilizing interactive survey and dialogue tools. Processes are in place to ensure that responses reflect the demographic composition of Vancouver.

Establish advisory groups and committees that can provide ongoing feedback and input into policies and decisions.

The City of Richmond has established the Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee to serve as an advisory body to city council on social, health and community matters. Membership is open to social service organizations operating in Richmond. The group works to identify and address emerging community concerns, create awareness about community issues by all levels of government, and support local community-based initiatives. Meetings are held monthly and are open to interested members of the public.

Develop relationships with bodies that may have overlapping interests to ensure that organizations work together to support the needs of communities.

Arts and Health Project: Healthy Aging through the Arts was an initiative developed in Vancouver and North Vancouver to provide vulnerable and marginalized seniors with community-engaged arts programming and to demonstrate the role that professionally led arts programs can play in the health and well-being of seniors. The project involved a number of partners, including the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Vancouver Coastal Health, and a number of community associations and senior-serving organizations. The initiative, which operated from 2006 to 2009, involved weekly participatory workshops led by professional artists in various art forms, including writing and digital photography, digital video, puppetry and dance, and mixed-media visual arts. Yearly exhibitions and performances were used to highlight the works created.