Page 7 - January 14, 2019
P. 7
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 12 MONDAY DECEMBER 10, 2018
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR MONDAY JANUARY 14, 2019 PAGE 7
Communications audit results for the Town of Edson
by Masha Scheele
Katie Robertson of Grapevine
Communications was the consultant selected to
perform a Communication Audit for the Town
of Edson. The audit consisted of a
comprehensive review of the Town's existing
communications, including tools and materials,
internal processes, and existing challenges.
Robertson presented the results of the audit
during the Committee of the Whole meeting on
January 8, 2019.
Recommendations included the improvement
of corporate communications productivity,
identifying strategic opportunities to leverage
current and future staff, continuing developing Katie Robertson of Grapevine Communications presented on the Town's communication audit during
and improving citizen engagement, identifying the Committee of the Whole meeting on January 8. photo Masha Scheele
and coordinating strategic opportunities for
council communications, and joint corporate
communications and marketing effectiveness TOWN OF EDSON Town of Edson
improvements. Office Hours
Grapevine's results were compiled from Public Information & Notices 2019 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
individual surveys conducted with councillors, Monday to Friday
senior leaders and managers at the Town of
Edson, and telephone interviews with
individuals identified by the Town as active
community and business leaders. Telephone
interviews with three comparable towns in
Alberta including Hinton, Drayton Valley, and
Devon, and an electronic communications
survey for residents and businesses posted on
the Town's website during November 28 until
December 9, 2018 were also included.
Key findings included that the Town
maintains a wide range of high quality
communications tools and processes,
supporting generally effective communications
with Town employees and residents, despite
limited resources. And that the Town should
continue to use social media channels as a way
to engage audiences who are online and eager
to receive information in this manner.
“A lot of the recommendations I see here are
pretty standard for a lot of organizations,” said
Mayor Kevin Zahara, who worked in
communications for more than 14 years. “We
don't have the financial capacity to add staff but
there's certainly opportunity to outsource some
stuff like graphic design.” Overall, Robertson
concluded Edson's communication level is
comparable with similar sized municipalities in
Alberta, stating that Edson's app is a great
addition.
“The app is still a fairly new thing in our
community so we have to continue to build on
that,” added Mayor Zahara.
Councillor Gean Chouinard asked
Robertson's view on the Town's website. “Your
website is easy to read, and quite clean in my
opinion,” said Roberson, but suggested
building the website from the resident's point of
view in future.
The Town has struggled with low
participation numbered with online tools
including the recent 2019 'Citizens Budget,'
where only 26 people in the community
responded.
Councillor Wilkinson commented that,
"Everyone does not have a smartphone. Social
media is important but so are all the others
ways to communicate to our citizens."
Wilkinson mentioned the Town's radio ads as
an example.
Robertson clarified that the audit’s scope did
not include radio and she was not recom-
mending to stop using traditional media like
radio. "You should continue using it," she
stated.
Mayor Zahara added, "Councillor Wilkinson
mentioned radio but I haven't received a lot of
feedback on that —I do know the newspaper is
another good way of communicating." www.edson.ca
PAGE 12 MONDAY DECEMBER 10, 2018
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR MONDAY JANUARY 14, 2019 PAGE 7
Communications audit results for the Town of Edson
by Masha Scheele
Katie Robertson of Grapevine
Communications was the consultant selected to
perform a Communication Audit for the Town
of Edson. The audit consisted of a
comprehensive review of the Town's existing
communications, including tools and materials,
internal processes, and existing challenges.
Robertson presented the results of the audit
during the Committee of the Whole meeting on
January 8, 2019.
Recommendations included the improvement
of corporate communications productivity,
identifying strategic opportunities to leverage
current and future staff, continuing developing Katie Robertson of Grapevine Communications presented on the Town's communication audit during
and improving citizen engagement, identifying the Committee of the Whole meeting on January 8. photo Masha Scheele
and coordinating strategic opportunities for
council communications, and joint corporate
communications and marketing effectiveness TOWN OF EDSON Town of Edson
improvements. Office Hours
Grapevine's results were compiled from Public Information & Notices 2019 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
individual surveys conducted with councillors, Monday to Friday
senior leaders and managers at the Town of
Edson, and telephone interviews with
individuals identified by the Town as active
community and business leaders. Telephone
interviews with three comparable towns in
Alberta including Hinton, Drayton Valley, and
Devon, and an electronic communications
survey for residents and businesses posted on
the Town's website during November 28 until
December 9, 2018 were also included.
Key findings included that the Town
maintains a wide range of high quality
communications tools and processes,
supporting generally effective communications
with Town employees and residents, despite
limited resources. And that the Town should
continue to use social media channels as a way
to engage audiences who are online and eager
to receive information in this manner.
“A lot of the recommendations I see here are
pretty standard for a lot of organizations,” said
Mayor Kevin Zahara, who worked in
communications for more than 14 years. “We
don't have the financial capacity to add staff but
there's certainly opportunity to outsource some
stuff like graphic design.” Overall, Robertson
concluded Edson's communication level is
comparable with similar sized municipalities in
Alberta, stating that Edson's app is a great
addition.
“The app is still a fairly new thing in our
community so we have to continue to build on
that,” added Mayor Zahara.
Councillor Gean Chouinard asked
Robertson's view on the Town's website. “Your
website is easy to read, and quite clean in my
opinion,” said Roberson, but suggested
building the website from the resident's point of
view in future.
The Town has struggled with low
participation numbered with online tools
including the recent 2019 'Citizens Budget,'
where only 26 people in the community
responded.
Councillor Wilkinson commented that,
"Everyone does not have a smartphone. Social
media is important but so are all the others
ways to communicate to our citizens."
Wilkinson mentioned the Town's radio ads as
an example.
Robertson clarified that the audit’s scope did
not include radio and she was not recom-
mending to stop using traditional media like
radio. "You should continue using it," she
stated.
Mayor Zahara added, "Councillor Wilkinson
mentioned radio but I haven't received a lot of
feedback on that —I do know the newspaper is
another good way of communicating." www.edson.ca
