Civic Engagement Resources
About the Resources
Local or municipal governments are the closest level of government to communities and significantly impact our day-to-day lives. Municipal issues might not get the attention that provincial and federal policy receives, but they are still incredibly important! The impact of a federal policy could take years to feel, but you’ll instantly notice if your garbage is not collected or your bus route to work stops running.
Despite their importance, most people don’t know how their local government operates. Trying to understand how the system functions can be intimidating and feel overwhelmingly complicated. To help make local governments more inclusive, we developed a series of educational resources to help demystify local government systems.
Use our comprehensive downloadable resources to learn more about how you can participate in your local government.
These resources were developed with the help of UBC graduate students. A special thank you to Alex Thomson, Asya Savelyeva, Karla Jubaily, Lily Liu, and Maliha Rehan for their contributions to this project.
This project was made possible through funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada.
Downloadable Resources:
Understanding Vancouver's Local Government
Download all the resources in one file here.
Vancouver’s Local Government Ecosystems
Learn more about the main bodies that make up Vancouver’s local government, what they are responsible for, and how they govern and manage all city-wide services and operations.
Types of Meetings
Learn more about the different kinds of meetings that happen at Vancouver City Hall and your opportunities to participate. Municipal governments work best when the public actively participates!
How City Council Decisions Are Made
Learn about how Vancouver City Council establishes their strategic priorities and five ways that you can participate in affecting these decisions.
Understanding Council Meeting Agendas
Vancouver City Council typically releases the agenda for meetings one week beforehand. Get an overview of some of the key parts of a typical council meeting agenda.
How to Participate in Vancouver Urban Planning Decisions
Making urban planning decisions is one of the most significant ways city councils create change. Learn more about how to get involved and have your voice heard.
Understanding City Motions
A motion is a term used in legal and civic spaces that refers to the formal process of requesting something to happen or expressing an official opinion within a governing body.
How to Speak to Council
Decisions made by council have a huge impact on our everyday lives. Learn more about speaking at council meetings to help you share your experience of living in the city. PLUS: Check out our printable resource to help you organize your three-minute speech to Council.
Official Community Plans
What are Official Community Plans (OCPs), what goes into them, and how can they help you understand the priorities of your city?
Civic Agencies
Learn more about civic agencies and how they can be used as an opportunity to directly engage with your local government..
Understanding the City Budget
Learn more about the budget process that allocates funds for Vancouver’s city services, facilities, and infrastructure, and the differences between the operating and capital budgets.
Influencing the Budget
Whether or not you directly pay property taxes as a homeowner, indirectly as a renter, or work in the city, it’s essential that the budget reflects your priorities too. Learn more about how you can participate in the city’s budgeting process.
Budget Timeline
Get an overview of what the timeline looks like for creating the annual city budget - and what happens if the budget isn’t approved.
How Does the Budget Get Funded?
Learn more about how the City of Vancouver generates revenue to fund the annual budget.
How to Get Involved in Your Municipality
Explore these resources to help you get involved in your municipality! Download the PDFs and learn more about how you can appear as a delegation, speak on motions, get involved with engagement opportunities, public hearings, and access your municipality's Official Community Plan.
Don't See Your Municipality?
Email us at info@womentransformingcities.org and we will add it to the list!
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