The City of Pickering deserves some praise for how it develops and consolidates the ‘personability’ of the City even as it grows.
One of the many commendable and gratifying aspects of the City of Pickering is the personability of its civil staff. Phone contact with almost anyone in the municipal staff is a pleasure. Invariably, the staff person is ‘smiling’ on the phone, pleasant to deal with, helpful quickly and patient.
Recently, in dealing with another southern Ontario municipality, contacting their staff was an incredibly challenging exercise. Two people, four attempts at contact with each, two weeks later, the responses. One was by email, the other, a phone call.
Experience with City of Pickering has never touched such dismal response, thank goodness. From the receptionists at the City’s main number, 905 683 7575 to specific people, some actually in the Mayor’s office. Responses have been within 24 hrs if not the same day. Pleasant, helpful and very personable, City staff reinforce the feeling, the City of Pickering may be becoming a large cosmopolitan entity but it is keeping its small town personability.
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An addendum to the above piece, on a recent visit to the Park behind City Hall, I saw a professional video crew video recording a City Hall executive on the park lawn.
A little investigation resulted in the explanation that the City has supplemented its internal staff messaging system. The older methods included phone messaging and email messages. The powers that be in the City have decided that adding a more personal touch of video communication will enhance the already efficient system it uses for internal staff communication.
It is commendable and gratifying that the City walks the walk and talks the talk about Pickering actually being an engaging and appealing City in which to live.
Photos are of staff executive, Marisa Carpino, preparing an interstaff communications video:
