Town of Whitby Corporate Communications Strategy Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting Mayor Perkins October 25, 2012

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Communications Goal

• Ensure that communications across the Town of Whitby are: – Coordinated – Effective – Responsive – Timely – Accessible

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Communications Strategy

• Provide a structure for how the Town can best communicate information to residents

• Optimize the use of technology and build upon the proliferation of social media and new media channels

• Align communication practices with the way residents prefer to be communicated with by the Town

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Current Communication Methods

• Websites – www.whitby.ca – www.choosewhitby.ca

• Whitby Perspective • Activity Guide • Experience Our

Downtowns • Seniors in Motion • Waste Calendar

• Online Surveys • Newspaper Advertising • Media Coverage • Online Calendars • Facility Advertising • Council Meeting

Announcements • Mayor’s Town Halls • Virtual Town Hall

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Websites

• The Town’s corporate website www.whitby.ca was fully redesigned and launched on May 1, 2012

• The Town’s Economic Development site www.choosewhitby.ca also launched in 2012

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Websites (continued)

• Homepage Banners and Hot Buttons

• What’s Happening, Council Highlights and Events Calendar

• RSS feeds and Subscribe to news

• Menus and Search

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The Whitby Perspective

• The Whitby Perspective is circulated to 40,000 homes via Canada Post.

• It is published twice a year. • It updates the community

on Town projects, programs, services, awards, events and partners (e.g. Whitby Hydro).

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Activity Guide

• The Activity Guide is circulated to 33,000 homes via Whitby This Week.

• It is published four times a year.

• It outlines sports and recreation programs and leisure services.

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Experience Our Downtowns

• The Experience our Downtowns magazine is circulated to 33,000 homes via Whitby This Week.

• It is published twice a year.

• It advertises businesses in both Downtowns.

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Seniors in Motion newsletter

• The Seniors in Motion newsletter is circulated to Whitby Senior Services members.

• It is produced twice a year.

• It provides information of interest to seniors in Whitby.

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Waste Calendar

• The Waste Calendar is circulated to homes via Canada Post.

• It is published once a year.

• It provides detailed information on the waste collection services for Whitby residents.

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Facility Advertising

• The Town regularly communicates events and programs with signage: – Exterior Signage – Posters on notice boards in

Town facilities – Interior TV monitors

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Newspaper Advertising

• The Town of Whitby publishes ads in local news media, including Whitby This Week, Brooklin Town Crier and SNAP Whitby.

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Media Coverage • The Town of Whitby

sends out Media Releases, Advisories and Public Notices to print, television and radio media outlets

• The media outlets notify the public via articles, news interviews and/or photographs

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Online Calendars

• Town events are uploaded onto external online calendars, such as: – DurhamRegion.com – SNAP Whitby – Durham Tourism – CKDO – Chamber of Commerce – Parent Source – Kijiji

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Community Engagement

• Community engagement is the basis for building healthy, sustainable and inclusive communities

• The Town recognizes the importance of involving the community in the development of strategies, policies, services and programs – Information Sharing (awareness) – Consultation and Active Involvement (opinion)

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Consultation and Active Involvement

• When the Town solicits public opinion, it: – Holds Public Information Centres /

Open Houses – Mails / emails invitations for comment – Maintains an Interested Parties list – Compiles opinions using surveys (paper and

digital) – Posts all related information on the website

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Other Communication Methods

• Electronic Newsletters

• More Printed Newsletters

• Radio Advertising • Read-o-Graph Signs • Rink Boards

• Social Media – Twitter

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Blogs

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Question and Answer Session

• How would you like the Town to communicate with you?

• How would you like to communicate with the Town?

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Thank you!