Federal grant enables County website re-design project

Haldimand County has embarked upon a website redesign project to develop a fully accessible, user-friendly website by December 2024. A public survey has been launched to collect resident input and will be open until November 3, 2023.

Haldimand County applied for funding through the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in an effort to expedite compliance with website accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The county was successful in its application and awarded $96,000 to support the project.

Having previously deemed website improvements as one of six corporate priorities to achieve during the 2022-2026 term, Haldimand County Council green-lighted the project in February 2023.

Feedback regarding the county website has not gone unnoticed and staff are hoping to gain further insight from the community on needs and wants when it comes to accessing county information. As a first step, residents and businesses are invited to share their thoughts on the current website and their needs for the new site.

The online survey will be available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/PD9NXMS until November 3, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. The feedback from the survey will be used to develop the design and sitemap of a new site.

Residents can find updates and view the progress of the website project at www.haldimandcounty.ca/website/.

“We’re incredibly grateful to have received this grant from the federal government,” says Megan Jamieson, General Manager, Corporate & Social Services. “As a municipality, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our services in ways that are meaningful to residents but also affordable. With the support of this grant, we’ll be able to ensure that all residents, of all ages and abilities will be able to access the information they need.”

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund.