Thunder Bay Counts launches new website

Thunder Bay Counts has narrowed its major objectives to three and launched a website to help organizations across the city help them achieve them.

The new site, www.thunderbaycounts.com, encourages people from all walks of life and all manner of organizations to share what they’re doing to make the community better.

The website will also let the public understand the city’s priorities and participate in working toward goals to enhance the wellbeing of people living and working in the city.

Ultimately the goal is to collect and house statistics that give an overview of trends in Thunder Bay over time.
Sandra Albertson, the United Way’s director of community impact, said on Friday the goals set were developed through the voice of the community, as well as research.

“The website was designed so people in Thunder Bay can do two things. People and organizations can go there and learn what’s happening in the community around priority areas, who is working in what areas,” Albertson said.

“Different organizations, they might like to get involved in events and initiatives.”

People and organizations can also register themselves and offer up what they’re working on as it relates to Thunder Bay Counts’ community goals, which include an inclusive and connected community, one free from poverty and boasting a prosperous and vibrant economy.

“It’s a two-fold type of opportunity. Organizations that post what they’re doing and the things and events that they’re working on  and then people can go there to find out what’s happening. Plus, if they register on the website we will email them, on a regular basis, activities that are happening,” Albertson said.

Launched earlier this year, it’s a great idea and should prove helpful once fully up and running, said Evergreen, A United Neighbourhood’s Linda Bruins.

“I think by just bringing more people together, being more connected,” Bruins said, mentioning things like neighbourhood barbecues and get-togethers many in the community might not know about.

“That’s certainly what we do and there are probably people in the Simpson-Ogden neighbourhood that don’t know anything about Evergreen and don’t know when they can come to the community barbecue and meet their neighbours.”

Simple, shared goals are help people co-ordinate efforts and make it possible to measure progress over time, said consultant Andrew Taylor, on hand to present the concept to a variety of potential stakeholders.

Taylor noted dozens of local research reports were scoured and several public forums were held to gain feedback.