Enhancing Pickering's website

Help improve the pickering.ca experience!

Participate in site navigation testing (available until April 25, 2024)

The City of Pickering is undergoing a website redesign project to help users better navigate pickering.ca and access the online services that matter most to them. We are currently in the stage of website navigation testing and invite you to get involved!

Help inform how the site should be organized by completing this short exercise: Get started here.

This exercise will test the effectiveness of the proposed redesigned navigation by determining how easily you can locate different pages. This is not a test of your ability, there are no right or wrong answers. The exercise tracks each selection or guess that you make.

By participating, you will help us determine how best to organize the information on pickering.ca and improve website navigation overall.

This short activity should take approximately 8 minutes to complete.

Give your general feedback

Share your thoughts on what is working well, current challenges, and suggestions for an improved pickering.ca experience. Have your say here!

This project will focus on providing a user-friendly experience, with attention to content, design, navigation, and optimum performance using the latest web technologies.

Feedback collected will be shared with the project team, to help inform decisions related to the new design and navigation of the site.

This project is supported by the City’s Digital Strategy.

Next steps

Once website navigation testing is complete, staff will begin working on content population, with the goal of publishing the new website in Fall 2024. Users can stay tuned here for project updates and opportunities to participate.

Digital Strategy

The City has developed its first Digital Strategy, which establishes an organization-wide commitment and clear accountability and actions to pave the way for the City’s digital transformation efforts. The City is committed to providing accessible, trustworthy, and convenient digital services to support Pickering’s diverse population and growth, while ensuring continuous and robust privacy and security measures. View the Digital Strategy and read Report CAO 01-24.

Future phases of the City’s digital transformation journey will include exploring an online tax portal, eCommerce platform and systems integration, a Citizen Portal that provides a secure and personalized resident experience, and an improved multi-channel communications solution for the City's Customer Care Team.

Digital Strategy

Community Engagement – What we Learned! (related to the City's website)

MNP Digital Inc. and the City’s Corporate Communications team facilitated a number of engagement opportunities to collect feedback from Members of Council, project Steering Committee, staff, and members of the public.

• Digital communications was rated as the top focus area for what the City should be prioritizing when it came to digital services. This includes streamlining the way in which information is shared through digital means, including an easy to navigate and accessible website as a top digital service priority.
• The website, along with email, is one of the top preferred ways for members of the public to access information from the City of Pickering.
• Users want technology that is user-friendly and accessible for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Users are looking for intuitive search functions and clear website navigation enables enhanced access to information.
• 27 per cent of survey respondents noted that their current website experience was excellent or very good. 35 per cent reported that it was fair or poor, and 38 per cent noted good.
• From the Adult 55+ community, there is frustration with time consuming navigation on the City’s website.
• From staff, we heard a need to modernize the current website so employees and citizens can navigate more efficiently and increase user-friendliness.

Recommendations

MNP’s recommendations follow a Municipal Technology and Innovation Framework, which uses leading practices for leveraging modern technology to continuously improve municipal services.

The three main focus areas are:

1. Digital Transformation – This involves replacing manual processes with digital processes or replacing older digital technology with newer digital technology.
2. Technology Governance – This involves organizational change management of how technology is selected, managed and maintained.
3. Data and Analytics – This involves data architecture, privacy and cyber security.

Project Timeline & Important Documents

• September 6, 2022: Council approves proposal submitted by MNP Digital Inc. dated April 13, 2022 in response to RFP 2022-2, regarding the selection of a consultant to provide a Corporate Digital Readiness Assessment and Strategy (Read Report CAO 14-22)
• February 5, 2024: Staff present Digital Strategy to Executive Committee (Read Report CAO 01-24)
• February 26, 2024: Council endorses the Digital Strategy at the Council Meeting. Read Report CAO 01-24.

Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan

The recommendations in this report respond to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priorities of Advance Innovation & Responsible Planning to Support a Connected, Well-Serviced Community - with a strategic focus on promoting community connectivity and accessibility; and Foster an Engaged & Informed Community – with a strategic focus on making information and services readily accessible and available to all community members. It also supports the Corporate Key of Good Governance/Customer Service Excellence, with a strategic focus on promoting the organizational efficiency and effectiveness, along with exceptional customer service.