Municipal engagement a priority in the Westshore

The City of Langford announced the launch of “Let’s Plan Langford” at its June 15 council meeting. City council hopes the public engagement strategy will serve as an invitation to the community to contribute ideas and feedback that will shape the future of the city. 

Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson said “This is one of the largest engagement strategies staff has worked on.” 

The Thursday Community Fun Day at Ruth King Elementary School on Jacklin Road will feature various activities for all ages, including games, crafts and a barbecue but the main event will be the opportunity for community members to participate in the Official Community Plan (OCP) engagement process alongside Goodmanson and city councillors. 

“It’s not just a one-off,” said the mayor. Three additional events will be held—one on the July 19 at the Station from 5-8pm, one at Goldstream Farmers market from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, July 20, and another at a music in the park event at Veterans Memorial Park on July 21 from 1-5pm.

"I think this is a great opportunity for residents, whether they’ve lived here their whole lives or whether they’re brand new to the city, to get involved and to have a say in what we’re going to see when our city reaches a population of 100,000,” said Langford city councillor Colby Harder. 

When municipal decision-makers actively seek opportunities to hear the hopes, concerns and values of community members, exchanges can lead to improved outcomes for a number of reasons. Engagement improves community empowerment and can be a powerful driver of democratic social transformation.

“We're facing a lot of overlapping challenges and crises, and, so to speak, almost rebuilding the plane while in flight. But we're trying to do it in a way that involves a lot of different voices, and not just people who are already engaged with civic planning and city building,” said Harder.

Accessibility to mayor and council doesn’t always have to be in chambers. Goodmanson told the Westshore, “The event on Thursday isn’t just about the launch, it’s about providing parents with the opportunity to give input without them having to come to city hall.” There will be additional events in the following weeks where “theoretically,” said the mayor, “we can have some very different demographics and mixes of people.” 

It is not uncommon for municipal engagement efforts to be met with skepticism, distrust, and even hostility but by providing residents with opportunities for open and direct inquiry, councils are able to disrupt mis/disinformation loops and enhance transparency and trust. This is particularly true when it comes to hearing from diverse, and sometimes marginalized, voices when they are empowered to address decision-making that affects their everyday lives. 

“We can get information from residents without them having to come back to us again and again continuously. I want to hear from people. I meant it when I ran on it,” Goodmanson said. 

Langford’s current OCP was written in 2008 and the city is looking for a glow-up. 

For a fast-growing city—Langford is projected to grow to 100,000 residents within the next 15-20 years—its plan will focus on housing affordability, public health and social equity, climate change planning and prevention. For council members, opening up to participatory problem-solving can improve efficiencies, and lend legitimacy, transparency and sustainability to planning and decision-making. 

“When you grow that fast, you’re going to get a whole range of new opinions. We’re never going to be able to reach every single resident but we want to be able to reach everyone,” said Goodmanson. 

The Let’s Plan Langford survey is now online and will be active until September 15. 

Langford is not the only Westshore municipality looking to boost civic engagement. Colwood and Metchosin have also invited people to attend their council meetings and for constituents to address council on any matter during an opening question period at the beginning of those meetings.  

In 2023, Colwood also launched its “Let’s Talk, Colwood!” initiative and created an online feedback platform where residents are invited to provide their insights into current and future policy decisions.