CivicInfo BC: Information Services for Local Governments www.civicinfo.bc.ca
This will be an exciting and interesting session.
Ground Rules Ask questions at any time. I am happy to go off on tangents, and discuss anything at all with you as long as it s vaguely related to our line of work. If you re interested in talking more, please call or email me. (Contact details on last slide.)
About CivicInfo BC We are a not-for-profit municipal agency, incorporated in 2000. www.civicinfo.bc.ca We re membership based 99% of BC local governments are members. We offer a wide range of services for people who are in the local government sector. Unique in Canada. (One sister association in the USA.)
Document Search
Document Search We maintain a Google Custom Search tool for searching all local government websites and those for related agencies in the province. We will occasionally assemble mini-libraries of documents specific to topical issues. We also have a Practices & Innovations database. Great starting point for research.
Directories
Find your local government colleagues, or suppliers that serve the sector.
Election Reporting
Mr. Peanut Candidate for Mayor of Vancouver, 1974
Mr. Peanut Campaigning with The Peanettes
Mr. Floatie Lobbying for sewage treatment. Aspiring Candidate for Mayor of Victoria, 2005
Election Reporting Database of 3,000 local government candidates assembled as soon as nominations close. Live results, direct from local governments, on election night. Results are fed live to all media, including CBC, CTV Bellmedia, major newspapers, TV, and radio.
Press Releases
Active transportation infrastructure provides bitchin new multi-use pathways
Press Releases We cross-post all local government press releases that may be of interest to a professional audience. Average of 2 or 3 per day. Excellent and easy way to see what your colleagues are doing in other communities.
@BCHeadlines on Twitter
One of our Twitter Followers (Really.)
@BCHeadlines on Twitter Local government news headlines, aggregated daily. About 75 headlines a day, linked. Includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. Horrible abuse of social media, but very popular with elected officials, senior staff, and community watchdogs. Great feedback.
Surveys & Statistics
Surveys & Statistics We conduct annual surveys of British Columbia local governments. (Fees & charges; wages, etc.) Most popular: salary and benefits surveys for staff; remuneration rates for elected officials. Opportunity exists to work with other provinces; sharing survey methodology and results.
Legislative Calendar
Legislative Calendar Key dates and deadlines from over 30 statutes and regulations. Invaluable tool for Finance Officers; especially new ones.
Career Postings
Think your job stinks? Think again.
Career Postings CivicInfo BC operates Canada s largest municipal job boards. BC job board at www.civicinfo.bc.ca National job board at www.civicjobs.ca About 800,000 page views per month between the two. Nearly 10 million per year.
Career Postings On the national job board (Civicjobs.ca) we are working with AUMA (Alberta); Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators, and others. Competes with job boards offered by other levels of government; co-operative (not competitive) model, working with other associations.
Bids & Tenders
Bids & Tenders Looking for a new contractor? Post the RFP with us. Highly engaged audience. Heavily used section of our website.
Professional Development Listings
Find exciting conferences, workshops, courses, and seminars.
Event Registrations
Event Registrations As a small revenue generator, CivicInfo BC does registrations for local government professional events of all sizes. About 150 events per year. We work with associations in BC, Ontario, Nova Scotia. Would love to work with associations in other provinces, too.
Open Data
What is Open Data? Open data is a philosophy and practice under which machine-readable data is available to everyone, without restrictions from copyright or other mechanisms of control. Open data is considered to be a key pillar of any open government strategy. Taking root in the UK, US, and in Canada.
Inter-Municipal Open Data Catalogue CivicInfo has a beta-version live now at data.civicinfo.ca. Combine open datasets from multiple jurisdictions; let s see what happens! Potential to expand across western provinces and beyond.
Video & Web Meetings
Video & Web Meetings Microsoft Lync System for CivicInfo members. HD multi-party video conferencing; full web meetings; application sharing, instant messaging. Share desktop and applications for troubleshooting purposes.
Conclusion
Our services are diverse because we have a diverse audience.
Water Treatment Plant Operators
City Managers & Finance Officers
Economic Development Officers
Animal Control
I.T. Department
Communication Directors
Parks & Rec Staff
Bylaw Enforcement
Elected Officials
THANK YOU Todd Pugh, CivicInfo BC tpugh@civicinfo.bc.ca Ph: 250-383-4898