HEALTH PROMOTION CAMPAIGN

Between 1985-2007 15.9 % of positive HIV tests were in women aged 40-49. In a similar time frame, 7.1% were in women over 50. Catapult Media is working with the Positive Women’s Network to launch a social media pilot project to disseminate sexual health education to women who are in their middle years and to create a knowledge base of HIV that women may share with other.

“Older women,” according to UNAIDS, “appear to have higher incidence than older men, and during a recent 5-year period, the number of new cases in this group increased by 40 percent.

What we learn from this project will continue to inform how most effectively to reach older women with sexual health information and empower them so they can make informed choices.  The campaign is expected to launch later this Fall.

CONSULTATION 2.0

With the growing trend in public consultation to utilize more open forms of dialogue such as focus groups and citizens’ juries, a growing number of methods and tools are being developed and tested both offline and online that support such public consultation exercises.

The evolution of web-based technologies has spurred on the integration of e-consultation as a fundamental component of a broader public consultation strategy. Because consultation techniques all require some sort of information gathering and communication process the notion that web-based technologies could provide tools and frameworks in increasing efficiencies, access and improving the quality of public consultation has generated much interest and is increasingly the subject of research.

TransLink is Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority responsible for regional transit, cycling and commuting options as well as AirCare and Intelligent Transportation System programs. TransLink also share responsibility for the Major Road Networkand regional cycling with municipalities in Metro Vancouver. They are the first North American transportation authority to be responsible for the planning, financing and managing of all public transit in addition to major regional roads and bridges.

This year TransLink launched a broad based public consultation in an effort to shape its regional plan moving forward. This included multi-government stakeholders, business sector constituencies, industry experts and the public throughout the region.

Catapult Media developed and supported the implementation of a public consultation process which included the integration of web 2.0.  With the launch of Be Part of the Plan, TransLink sought to raise awareness about the transit and transportation challenges facing the region and then engage in a public dialogue to inform options to address these challenges and opportunities moving forward.