Budget e-Town Hall Event Honored

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City wins National Innovation Management Award

(Nanaimo BC, August 19, 2013) – The City of Nanaimo has been awarded Bronze for Innovation Management by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) for the work undertaken in March when Council and staff hosted the 2013 Budget “e-Town Hall” event.

IPAC’s Innovation and Management award recognizes organizations who improve public service in Canada by distinguishing government agencies that have shown exceptional innovations that address the wide variety of issues facing society today. Past recipients are commonly drawn from federal and provincial level ministries and crown corporations. The award has only been presented to four municipalities in the last 23 years thereby making Nanaimo’s recognition this year a unique event.

Held March 25th, 2013, the City of Nanaimo’s Budget e-Town Hall was the first event of its kind on Vancouver Island and only the second such event in British Columbia. Using an integrated approach to public engagement that allowed residents to connect directly with Council and staff via Twitter, Facebook, web form, phone call or in person during a regular Council Meeting, the City dramatically increased the diversity and number of questions brought forward on the subject of the City’s 2013 budget.

“I think everyone who participated in the March 25th e-Town Hall event felt we had created a very workable solution to the ongoing challenge of attracting a wide spectrum of feedback on topics related to the City’s 2013 budget”, said Nanaimo City Mayor, John Ruttan. “And to have that solution recognized by a national association as an example of innovation leadership, that’s a tremendous achievement for the residents, staff and Council members who made this event a success”.

“We believe that public engagement can be enhanced through the application of inexpensive and innovative technology,” said Nanaimo’s Manager of Business Applications, Guillermo Ferrero. “Winning this award encourages us to continue creating new opportunities to interact with our community”.

“Exploring new and compatible ways of connecting local government with residents are important goals contained in both the City’s Strategic Plan as well as its Communication Plan”, said Manager of Communications, Philip Cooper. “Our e-Town Hall event established a fantastic method to receive questions and ideas from residents using a variety of channels that fit within their schedules and lifestyles”.

For more information on Nanaimo’s e-Town Hall, visit – www.nanaimo.ca/goto/townhall