Community Engagement: The Next Generation

“Engagement expectations have changed and yet we’re often using the same community engagement techniques we have used for years. We need a new generation of tools and practices to inform, consult, involve and partner with people in building better communities.”

PlaceSpeak was a proud sponsor and presenter at the Tamarack Institute’s “Community Engagement: The Next Generation” workshop from March 7-9. In order to best tackle the challenges faced by engagement professionals in a digital world, sessions explored different tools and approaches to engagement.

Traditional means of citizen engagement such as door-to-door conversations, phone surveys, and town hall meetings have become increasingly limited in their reach and efficacy. PlaceSpeak CEO Colleen Hardwick discussed the importance of location-based online citizen engagement processes. PlaceSpeak’s unique geo-verification technology is a game-changer for any organization wishing to consult online with residents within specific geographic boundaries or jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, neighbourhoods, or regions.

The presentation also featured a discussion with Richard McIntosh, Communications & Economic Development Officer at the City of Yellowknife. Since 2016, the City has been using PlaceSpeak to consult with residents on a wide range of issues including dog parks, bike lanes, the budget, and more. Its base of civically engaged users has grown with each subsequent consultation, making it easier and more cost-effective to reach a broader audience over time.

“PlaceSpeak is a very functional public engagement tool that provides organizations with the ability to engage with users in as broad or as specific of a geographic area as required,” said Richard. “The software itself is very user-friendly and when needed the support from the PlaceSpeak team has been quick and reliable.”