The City of Nanaimo has won a national award for its first-ever e-Town Hall meeting.
City officials announced this week that Nanaimo won bronze for innovation management from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.
The award recognizes organizations that improve public service with “exceptional innovations” and has been handed out just four times in just over two decades, a press release reads.
Nanaimo held its first ever e-Hall meeting – the second of its kind in B.C. – last March. Residents could ask city council questions or comment during a regular city council meeting via social media, phone or webform with real-time responses from politicians and staff.
“I think everyone who participated in the March 25 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 Mayor John Ruttan.
“To have that solution recognized by a national association...that’s a tremendous achievement for the residents, staff and council members who made this event a success.”
The city anticipates another e-Town Hall meeting next year.