New Westminster, BC – The City of New Westminster has launched a new online engagement platform, Be Heard New West. The online platform, which features an assortment of engagement tools including discussion forums, polls, idea boards, and surveys, offers a convenient space for community members to be informed and provide input on a variety of City projects. The platform is live and available on all devices at beheardnewwest.ca.

“Hearing feedback and input from a diverse range of voices is critical to ensuring that as a Council we are making decisions that will benefit everyone in our community,” said Mayor Jonathan X. Coté. “The goal of Be Heard New West is to provide a respectful space for residents to interact with each other and increase the depth and breadth of public involvement in City processes. With the convenience and flexibility of the platform, we hope to increase participation rates in our public engagement processes, and to include the voices of those who may have been missing from the conversation.”

Powered by global industry-leader Bang the Table’s Engagement HQ software, Be Heard New West offers more interaction and tools than traditional online surveys. Users will be able to post ideas on virtual post-it notes, comment and up-vote other community members’ ideas, participate in moderated online discussion forums, take quick polls, submit questions, as well as participate in online surveys. The interactive, user-friendly site allows users to participate in different ways and stay up-to-date throughout the duration of a project.

“COVID-19 has significantly impacted the City’s ability to host in-person public engagement such as workshops and open houses,” said Jennifer Miller, Manager of Public Engagement. “Now more so than ever, we need to provide new ways for the community to share their feedback. Be Heard New West allows residents to participate whenever and wherever is most convenient for them. This is engagement on your schedule.”

Community members are encouraged to register once on the site prior to sharing their input. Registered users can tailor their preferences to receive notifications about topics that matter most to them. The City’s new Electric Mobility Strategy is now open for input and upcoming projects 97 Braid Street (Sapperton Green) and 51 Elliot Street Rezoning will also soon be available. Updates on the City’s COVID-19 Recovery Engagement project and the Budget 2021 survey are also available.

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Contact:
Jennifer Miller
Manager of Public Engagement
City of New Westminster
604-527-4653 or