By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The City of Sherbrooke is inviting residents to help shape how it communicates and collaborates with the public by participating in a survey to update its Politique de participation publique (Public Participation Policy). The initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen citizen engagement in municipal affairs, a goal Mayor Évelyne Beaudin says is central to good governance.
The short questionnaire, available online until April 13, is designed to gather public input on the values and principles that should guide future consultations. According to Beaudin, “Dialogue with citizens is at the heart of municipal action. Involving the public in decision-making is essential for governance that truly meets their needs.”
The current update builds on work that began in January with the creation of a dedicated Public Participation Team within the city administration. This new team is tasked with designing consistent engagement strategies and guiding how Sherbrooke connects with residents on everything from zoning and infrastructure projects to cultural and sports policies.
“We needed a guide for the team to know how to respond to the orientations of city council,” Beaudin said during an interview on April 10. “So, the survey is part of this work to elaborate our new public participation policy”.
While the city has conducted similar consultations in the past—including a broad community development survey held last year—the mayor clarified that the current initiative is more comprehensive and intended to encompass a wider range of municipal decisions.
“That one was more for citizen participation at the community level—how you can get involved in your neighbourhood or even your street,” she explained. “This one is for everyone, monsieur, madame, tout le monde. It’s about anything going on in the city”.
