What makes PlaceSpeak different from other online engagement tools?
May 23rd, 2013 in GeneralThe PlaceSpeak Difference
PlaceSpeak provides a controlled, secure, privacy-protected, and transparent platform for organizations to gather public input on a wide variety of projects from a local community or wider geographic region. PlaceSpeak is citizen-focused, transparent, open and accountable. All data collected is from real people.
Our platform adds value to public consultation and engagement processes. This value is added through generating verifiable data to support decision-making by communicating with participants online according to their actual address and personal preferences. We help organizations gather defensible, geographically coded information to satisfy the need for public consultation and engagement.
What makes PlaceSpeak a good online engagement platform?
The development of PlaceSpeak was influenced by the International Association of Public Participation [IAP2] Spectrum of Participation (pdf). The platform is designed to allow for genuine, open and transparent engagement that:
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taps into the wisdom of the entire community;
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can effectively engage, at different levels and at different times, all who want to participate in the engagement process (not just a selected segment);
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satisfies people’s desire to be heard on their own terms and at their own pace and time;
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increases the number of voices that are being heard;
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each new consultation expands the base of users due to the people-centred networking effect;
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is more inclusive and gives people a more equitable way to participate;
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allows the community to weigh in on the definition of the problem and provide ideas for solutions;
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allows the community to see how their voice is used in shaping outcomes in the overall decision making process;
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re-defines the relationship between community and decision makers; and
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over time fosters community pride and community well-being.
The Importance of Verification
PlaceSpeak believes that to for a public engagement process to be valuable to decision-makers, participants should be accountable for the input they provide. To be accountable you have to be real; and to be real you have to verify that you are who you say you are. The incentive for residents to claim their place with PlaceSpeak is that they only have to do it once. Once a resident claims their place, they are able to participate on any topic of interest that is connected with their geographic location(s)of interest to you, according to the parameters of the consultation proponent.
PlaceSpeak = SafeSpeak
Personal information collected from residents by PlaceSpeak—including physical addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses—is used to serve as a bridge between participants and the topics they choose to connect to. When a participant connects to a topic, s/he becomes a verifiable data point that can be counted to ensure that their input is recorded and heard. Participants are able to choose how their name and image are seen by other viewers. PlaceSpeak is not funded by advertiser and we will never sell your information to third parties.
For more information, please review our privacy policy or view this short video:
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Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Infrastructure Development Contribution Agreement
May 16th, 2013 in Topics
As a key tool in the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality’s communication strategy for implementation of the Infrastructure Development Contribution Agreement (IDCA) and the public referendum that is scheduled for June 8, 2013, the NRRM has created a PlaceSpeak account.
NRRM Infrastructure Development Contribution Agreement Facts
- The Infrastructure Development Contribution Agreement is the legal instrument for the Province to provide up to $10 million annually to the NRRM for infrastructure funding for 20 years, beginning in 2015 through 2035, contingent upon an overall capital expenditure and asset management plan of at least $20 million each year over the lifetime of the agreement.
- The purpose of the agreement is to ensure that the NRRM`s community infrastructure is upgraded and expanded to facilitate the growth in BC’s natural gas industry, and also future forestry and mining development.
- Future infrastructure costs will be shared equitably between the Province and the Northern Rockies with the Province generally assuming growth related costs and the NRRM assuming non-growth related costs.
- This partnership agreement between the Province and the NRRM will action both parties planning and investing in NRRM’s infrastructure decision making – and will focus on proactive, long term and adaptive capital planning tied to industrial and community growth.
- An Infrastructure Management Committee (two NRRM and two Provincial representatives) will be formed for the duration of the agreement. The role and function of the management committee is to review the rolling — one, five and twenty year Capital Plans submitted by the NRRM and to make a single recommendation to the respective Ministers for approvals which will trigger the annual Provincial grant.
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Institute of Families FamilySpeak Mental Health Public Consultation
May 9th, 2013 in NewsEarlier this week, the Institute of Families launched their inaugural FamilySmart initiative that includes a Canada-wide public consultation called FamilySpeak that is using PlaceSpeak to gather input.
https://www.placespeak.com/familyspeak
Nearly four students in every classroom of thirty in Canada struggle with mental health challenges and the majority of children are not receiving adequate care, the leading national child and youth mental health advocacy organization says to mark Child & Youth Mental Health Day.
“Approximately two million children and youth in Canada have mental health challenges, and many children feel that nobody understands them or cares about them,” said Keli Anderson, President and CEO of the Institute of Families for Child & Youth Mental Health. “Although input from families offers a critical resource to service providers and government in preventing and treating child and youth mental health disorders, families’ voices are rarely sought or engaged in a meaningful way. PlaceSpeak is a tool that helps us provide real verifiable data from families and can be presented to government and policy makers.”
2013 marks the third year the Institute of Families is leading activities across the country to highlight the urgent issue of child and youth mental health and the first to conduct a Canada wide online public consultation using PlaceSpeak. The FamilySpeak online discussions and consultations will also take place on the Institute of families’ new website, www.familysmart.ca.
Institute of Families founders Ms. Anderson and Dr. Davidson note that health care providers, researchers, educators, and business make their voices heard through professional associations. The Institute is working to do likewise with FamilySpeak for families, because of families’ unique point of view and valuable input in child and youth mental health.
“We are delighted that the Institute of Families has selected PlaceSpeak as the platform for their first Canada Wide FamilySpeak online public consultation,” said Colleen Hardwick, President and CEO of PlaceSpeak. “PlaceSpeak will be able to provide real data from participants regarding mental health issues in different geographic areas amongst children and youth, while ensuring privacy and security is maintained for those who want to participate.”
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PlaceSpeak’s Colleen Hardwick on Women in Emerging Technology [V2R]
May 7th, 2013 in NewsOn APril 18, 2013, PlaceSpeak CEO, Colleen Hardwick was invited to speak at PWC Canada‘s ‘Vison to Reality’ (V2R) Conference in Toronto, Ontario.
V2R is PWC’s premier event for emerging Canadian technology companies. Leading entrepreneurs and innovators—including Colleen—took the stage in a series of insightful and inspirational talks. The conference provided a great opportunity to forge new relationships and meet new potential business partners and fellow founders. This year’s event also featured a keynote address by Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Flickr.
Here is a video clip that was recorded during the event, focusing on women in technology, including Colleen:
Women continue to be underrepresented in the Canadian emerging technology industry. Colleen Hardwick, Founder of PlaceSpeak, and others who attended our V2R conference share their views on why they feel this is.
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40 Years of Changing Attitudes in Metro Vancouver
April 30th, 2013 in News
Metro Vancouver Urban Futures Survey 2012Results
Politicians, planners and policy makers can now be informed by forty years of comparative data on the changing attitudes of residents in the Metro Vancouver region thanks to the release today of the results of the 2012 Urban Futures Survey. The Technical Report results can be downloaded here (pdf | 3.6 MB).
This is the third in a series of geographically specific research studies that measures a number of issues important to residents across the Lower Mainland. Previous surveys conducted in 1973 and 1990 informed the Livable Region Plan and the Choosing our Future program. The 2012 survey updates and enhances the information available about public attitudes and experiences of the population over three points in time.
“I am not aware of any other urban region that has an extensive body of comparable information such as this available to aid the decision-making process.” says Ken Cameron, former Manager of Policy and Planning for the GVRD (Metro Vancouver). Cameron was involved in the 1990 survey as well as the 2012 version. “The Vancouver region’s success in becoming one of the most livable regions in the world was accomplished through concerted efforts of regional and local governments over many years, decades, in fact.” he said. “It is invaluable to have comparable data spanning nearly 40 years that can tell us what has changed—and not changed—in public opinion as the region has grown. The earlier surveys had an important impact on transportation and environmental policies, and the 2012 survey will undoubtedly offer a rich resource of information to planners and policy makers looking to the future”.
The Technical Report
A unique aspect of the Technical Report is the comparison it provides with the results of earlier surveys. For example, provision of health care ranked 3rd in 1990 and 9th in 1973, while air pollution from industry was the top concern in both earlier surveys. This reflects the concerted action by government to improve air quality in the intervening years. Similarly, while preserving the natural environment was the most important priority for action in the earlier surveys, by 2012 it had dropped to 4th place, a result that could be attributed to efforts by government to improve water quality through upgraded waste water treatment, to give priority to solid waste reduction and recycling and to protect the region’s working landscape through creating the Green Zone.
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- What makes PlaceSpeak different from other online engagement tools?
- Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Infrastructure Development Contribution Agreement
- Institute of Families FamilySpeak Mental Health Public Consultation
- PlaceSpeak’s Colleen Hardwick on Women in Emerging Technology [V2R]
- 40 Years of Changing Attitudes in Metro Vancouver
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