PlaceSpeak has received the Public Health Association of British Columbia (PHABC) Healthy Corporate Citizen Award. The platform was nominated for its ability to empower ordinary citizens from across the province to engage with pressing issues in a way that legitimizes their concerns and ideas, allowing people to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
In the lead-up to the 2017 BC provincial election, the PHABC conducted a consultation on the future of public health in BC. British Columbians were invited to provide input into public health issues affecting the province and share ways that they would amplify public health issues to candidates during the election. Participants could engage by taking a survey or a poll and contributing to a discussion forum.
PlaceSpeak’s unique geo-verification technology allowed the PHABC to better understand the different needs and priorities of the public across BC’s 85 electoral districts. By gaining a more nuanced understanding of public opinion, the PHABC is better positioned to advocate on behalf of specific issues and concerns in different regions of the province.
“PlaceSpeak is an essential utility for decision-makers in today’s digital ecology. The Public Health Association of BC is committed to public engagement on health and social policies,” said Shannon Turner, Executive Director of PHABC. “Authenticated data is mission critical, and PlaceSpeak supports that commitment. We are so pleased to acknowledge their leadership in growing community voices and Canada’s democracy.”
PlaceSpeak has also been used to help shape public health guidelines and ensure that standards meet the needs of physicians and patients. Earlier in 2017, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) used PlaceSpeak to consult with the public on their experiences with walk-in clinics and referrals to specialists.
“The ability to engage with people online within specific boundaries in an authentic way lends itself particularly well to the area of public health,” says PlaceSpeak CEO, Colleen Hardwick. “PlaceSpeak helps decision-makers better understand the unique needs of each region to support healthy, vibrant communities.”