---Gatineau launches new information portal for residents
With much of the population frequently using the internet, especially during the pandemic, the city of Gatineau rolled out a new online platform aimed at providing residents a more efficient way to connect with municipal services and activities online. Inaugurated on September 15, the platform is called: Citizen Portal (Portail citoyen) and is accessible via the city’s website - https://portailcitoyen.gatineau.ca/.
Noting that 80 per cent of Gatineau residents use the internet, Aylmer’s Territorial Director, Marc Phaneuf, explained that the site enables residents to create an account and pinpoint municipal information that they want to receive and services personalized to their liking. Among other things, the Citizen Portal also helps residents renew Gatineau Accès cards, sign up for “Culture et loisir” programming, consult a residual waste schedule, receive e-mail notifications regarding certain services and activities, and customize an event calendar.
Noting that the platform was in the making years before coronavirus, Buckingham councillor and one of the initiative’s spearheads, Martin Lajeunesse, said the pandemic certainly expedited the process, Adding that the city is continually working to adapt its services to modern standards, to improve the new platform and expand its list of services, Lajeunesse believes launching the Citizen Portal is a step in the right direction. Going forward with the platform, the city expects to integrate non-urgent 3-1-1 calls along with geo-location technology, a text message notification system, its taxation service and library services, among other things, he said. The platform was made in response to public demand expressed in a city survey conducted in 2017 that polled 500 people, Phaneuf said.
A big fan of the new platform, Deschênes councillor Mike Duggan believes it responds to the city’s need to provide better municipal services to residents, adding that it will constantly evolve, while already performing at a fairly high level. Lucerne councillor Gilles Chagnon invited the population to connect with the Citizen Portal because it will “pay dividends in benefiting residents’ access to municipal activities and services”.
--Culture and leisure program back
Despite COVID-19 still affecting that way people live, the city of Gatineau has restarted its Culture and leisure program in time for the fall – offering more than 500 activities for residents.
According to a press release issued by the city on September 15, the program’s registration period for aquatic activities begins on September 28 at 6 pm – noting that people interested in signing up must have a Citizen portal account and are encouraged to do so before registering for the program. The registration period for physical, cultural, library and organizational activities begins on September 29 at 6 pm, extending until October 6 at 4 pm. A second registration period should take place between October 13 at 9 am and midnight on October 14.
Those with questions regarding the program’s registration period are encouraged to call (819) 595-7474 on September 28 or 29 between 6 and 8 pm. Residents are invited to register at any of the city’s 10 municipal libraries, including the Lucy-Faris Library.
