What is Public Engagement?

    Public engagement is a process that brings people together to address issues of common importance, and to solve shared problems. This can be done in person and online.  Public engagement allows municipalities to work more collaboratively with their residents and establish processes for public input that help to inform the decision-making process. Research tells us that cities with effective public engagement processes develop plans, strategies, programs and policies to better meet the needs of their residents and key stakeholders. In turn, this results in increased citizen satisfaction.

    Does the City have an engagement policy?

    Yes. The City of St. John's has developed an engagement policy to support its work. The policy notes the guiding principles for public engagement which include: commitment, accountability, clear and timely communication and inclusiveness. The policy also outlines the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in the process from Councillors and staff, to external stakeholders and includes a requirement for evaluation. In 2017 the City completed a review of the policy.

    Why did the City develop an engagement policy and framework?


    The City of St. John's recognizes the importance of public engagement and the opportunities it creates to hear from, and work with, residents.  In April 2014, the Engage St. John's Task Force was established which brought together 25 organizational and citizen-at-large representatives to help shape the City's policy direction for public engagement and to identify tools and techniques to support the work.

    Following a review of what other municipalities were doing well and what the City of St. John's should consider, the Task Force developed a comprehensive report. The final report with recommendations was submitted to Council and accepted on October 20, 2014. The City has implemented many of the recommendations from the report and continues to look for ways to enhance the public engagement process.

    What is EngageStJohns.ca?


    EngageStJohns.ca is the City's online engagement website. The site was launched in 2015 and is used to host information, provide engagement tools, and provide project updates to the public. The wesbite is one way that the public can provide feedback to the City, in addition to other ways such as in-person engagement sessions and surveys. EngageStJohns.ca assists in making public engagement easier, more inclusive, and more representative of public opinion.

    How do I find out more about the engagement process?

    If you would like to learn more about the City's public engagement process, contact engage@stjohns.ca or check out the  Engagement page on the City's website.

    Why do I need to register to participate in some engagement activities on the website?

    We ask that you register for a few reasons. It allows us to ensure information is accurate and helps us ensure responses are from residents and not coming from spam. This means we can use your feedback to help shape City programs and services.

    There are a variety of tools to collect feedback at EngageSt.John's.ca. However, not all tools are able to collect user information such as your Ward, age, etc.. By collecting this information through the registration process, we are able to have that information available for all engagement activities. This type of information can be especially important when a project is neighbourhood specific or we want to ensure we are getting a good mix of ages, etc. 

    By collecting your contact information, we can follow up with you directly as a project moves through its life cycle to ensure you have the latest information and know when decisions have been made.  We have heard through our evaluation processes that getting follow up information is important to people.

    Please note that  personal information collected through the EngageStJohns.ca registration process is only used for the purpose of engagement activities. The City of St. John's follows the provincial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPPA) when collecting and using personal information.

    Can I use EngageStJohns.ca without members of the public seeing my name?

    Yes, you can use the online engagement tools without others knowing your name. When you create an account, you decide what your screen name will be. Your screen name can be generic or include your name. You can update your user profile, including your screen name, at any time by logging in to your account.

    How does the City advertise public engagement opportunities?

    We advertise engagement opportunities in a variety of ways depending on the project or initiative, including things such as postcards or direct mail if the project is neighborhood specific, or posters, social media, signage, and paid advertising, etc. 

    Here are some ways to stay informed about engagement opportunities:

    ▪ Register for a free EngageStJohns.ca account to get notifications of new opportunities. 

    ▪ Follow the City of St. John's on social media channels

    ▪ Sign up for engagement opportunity notifications on the City website

    How can I get notified about new public engagement opportunities and projects featured on EngageStJohns.ca?

    If you create an account and stay subscribed to our newsletter you’ll be the first to know about new engagement opportunities. You can also subscribe to public engagement notifications through the City website.

    What if I don’t get the confirmation email to activate my registration?

    If you don’t get the confirmation email within 10 minutes, be sure to check your junk and spam folders. If you still haven't received an email from Engagement HQ, please contact support@engagementhq.com for help.