Communicating with the Public

Introduction

Communicating with the Public outlines communication strategies and approaches staff can use to bolster public outreach and engagement. Clear and understandable communication helps the public understand City projects and how they can contribute to decision-making.

Approaches to communication and engagement with the public may also be trauma-informed, and can be tailored to different types of learners.

This section includes recommendations on verbal and written communication, including use of clear, simple and inclusive language and affirmative language to convey project information and encourage broader public participation. This section also provides guidance on nonverbal and graphic communication.

Lastly, the section provides resources on a variety of communication topics, including public speaking and engagement event facilitation, paid advertisement considerations, conflict management, translation and interpretation, and document accessibility.