The Board and staff of the Central Coast Regional District identified the development of a communications and engagement plan as a strategic priority in 2014. The goal of the plan is to more effectively engage with the residents and stakeholders the Regional District serves. As the key service delivery agent for an area that encompasses more than 24,000 square kilometres and approximately 3,200 residents, the Regional District believes that proactive stakeholder engagement is one of the most effective ways to communicate regional initiatives to residents and key stakeholder groups, foster an atmosphere of community collaboration and ensure an open and transparent democratic process.
This plan is designed to provide Board and staff members with a basic framework that outlines the Regional District’s approach to communications. The plan also includes objectives, protocols and tools to undertake and evaluate the Regional District’s communications initiatives. This is a living document and will be reviewed from time to time, as required.
It is understood that the Regional District has capacity issues that will limit its ability to implement and maintain a rigorous communications plan to increase engagement with residents and key stakeholders in the long term. As a result, this plan has been designed to jump-start communications initiatives in the Regional District, and contains basic strategies, protocols and tools that Board and staff members can utilize on an as-needed basis when capacity is available.
The development of this plan represents a partnership between the Regional District’s Board and staff members and Northern Development Initiative Trust. Northern Development’s Director of Communications is available to provide ongoing capacity to support the Regional District’s communications and engagement needs.