Citizen Engagement Strategy

HAVE YOUR SAY!

We want to hear from you! The District of North Saanich recognizes the importance and value of involving local residents to help shape District projects, policies and initiatives. Engaging residents and interest holders on issues that affect their lives and their city is a vital component of a well-functioning democratic society and is a key priority of the District's Strategic Plan.

What is this project about?

This strategy will serve as a guide for staff when carrying out public engagement for municipal projects. It will also be a resource for residents to understand how, when, and why the District engages with the community. Our ultimate goals are to increase transparency, build trust, enhance participation rates, establish consistency in the way we engage, and provide members of Council with the best possible information to shape North Saanich's future.

How can you participate?

We are committed to seeking diverse opinions and experiences from residents, and there are many ways to get involved:

• Open House: Join us on September 25, from 3-6 p.m. at Municipal Hall to learn more about the strategy, and to share your thoughts;
• Pop-ups: Meet us at one of our three pop-up events in early October:
  • Thursday, Oct. 10: Ardmore Golf Club: 11:00-1:00 pm
  • Saturday, Oct. 12: Blue Heron Park: 11:00-1:00 p.m.
• Online survey and poll: Visit this page from Sept 10 until Oct 10 to participate in our survey and poll;
• In-person feedback: Drop by Municipal Hall anytime until Oct 10 to fill out a survey and give us your input.

Why is this important?

We want to ensure that all residents have a voice in how the District communicates and engages with the community. By participating, you'll help us create a strategy that reflects the needs and preferences of our diverse population. Your input will help shape a more transparent, participatory, and responsive municipality. As we continue to evolve our public engagement efforts, we are committed to seeking diverse opinions, experiences and information from our community to ensure you are informed and involved in shaping City decisions.

What's next?

After gathering your feedback in September and October, we'll produce an engagement summary (a What We Heard report) that will be presented to Council in late October. This document will be available online here as well as on our District website. From this feedback, best practices established across Canadian municipalities, and relying on the IAP2 (International Association for Public Participation) framework, a draft strategy will be created and presented to Council on December 16 for adoption. We hope to carry out workshops with staff members in December and implement the new strategy in early 2025.

Get involved!

This is your chance to shape the way North Saanich connects with its community. Help us build a strategy that ensures your voice is heard, your opinions are valued, and our municipality is stronger together.