Stratford has launched a more streamlined way for residents to interact with city services and the plethora of other information on its website.
Officials in the Festival City unveiled this week a new web-based tool called MyStratford.
The secure online portal allows users to customize their homepage with widgets that provide up-to-date info about public notices, city events, public engagement opportunities and more.
Naeem Khan, Stratford’s chief technology and security officer, said the tool is designed to cut through the 400-plus pages on the city’s growing website, making it easier for residents to keep tabs on the information they need the most, whether that’s garbage collection dates or public swimming events.
“That’s the best feature,” Khan said. “The information is on the website, but (on MyStratford) it’s all in one place and citizens can choose what’s important to them.”
There are currently 20 widgets available, including one connected to Engage Stratford, the online engagement tool the city launched earlier this year to make it easier for residents to comment on city projects.
The widgets can be programmed to send email notifications and, although there isn’t a MyStratford app, the browser-based platform works well on desktop, mobile devices and tablets, Khan said.
Public feedback during the first phase of MyStratford’s launch will help determine what information will be available in the future, Khan added. That feedback can be submitted through the platform.
Kitchener has released a similar website, and there are other cities experimenting with the concept, Khan said, especially as municipal websites become more cluttered.
“Our websites have grown so big,” Khan said. “We can bring … I would say 90 to 100 per cent of the information that’s relevant to residents into one place.”
Originally discussed at city hall before the project was delayed by the pandemic, councilors approved $90,000 for MyStratford in this year’s municipal budget. More than 60 per cent of the cost has so far been covered by a federal grant, Khan said.
A user guide with frequently asked questions is available online.