The City of Courtenay has launched a new and improved website, along with Facebook and Twitter social media channels.

The website offers features such as online employment applications, improved search capabilities, accessibility options, an events calendar, and a responsive design that adjusts the layout to fit a variety of devices and screen sizes ranging from large monitors to mobile phones.

City of Courtenay CAO David Allen said these new communication tools will make it easier to find information and interact with the City. “Our website hasn’t had a major upgrade for many years, and we took this opportunity to review everything with fresh eyes,” said Allen. “Much of the information on the current site has been completely updated and reorganized, and there’s lots of new content and tools as well.

“The new website and social media represent a big step forward in our communication efforts.”

New and improved content and easy-to-use navigation were designed around the needs of the general public as well as the business and development community.

Contact information and related links are available on every page of the new website.

Other custom functionality includes a projects gallery that will inform visitors of capital projects under way in the City, and photo galleries and tours that showcase the natural beauty of the region.

For businesses, new online applications for current bid opportunities will make it easier for vendors wishing to sell products or services to the City.

The new site also includes an emergency notification system. In the event of an emergency, every page of the website will include an emergency alert, ensuring that website visitors are kept informed, regardless of which page they land on.

Courtenay’s new website was designed by Atomic Crayon, a Victoria-based web agency that has designed more than 40 websites for municipal clients that include governing bodies in British Columbia, Alberta and the United States.

To view the new website, go to www.courtenay.ca