City of Vernon gives its website a major facelift

VERNON – The City of Vernon has a new online look.

It unveiled a new website today, Dec. 22, which has been over a year in the making. Vernon council approved a budget of $125,000 for the project in September 2014, and Upanup Design Studios from Victoria, B.C., was awarded the contract in July 2015. The launch follows six months of design work and consultation.

“The site is designed with a focus on improved communication, ease of navigation, functionality and city branding,” communications officer Tanya Laing Gahr says in a media release.
 
Visitors will notice the redeveloped website brings two major services, economic development and Greater Vernon Recreation, under the same umbrella. These functions were previously represented by separate websites. They have been incorporated into the main site to help residents, visitors and business investors more easily find the information they need, Laing Gahr says.

Links to Vernon Tourism were enhanced, and the site also incorporates the new Activate Life brand and uses numerous attractive, high-quality images of Vernon from Heath Fletcher and Jeff Bassett from Sproing Creative, Laing Gahr says.
 
“There are several new features on the website, including interactive maps, image gallery and improved search functions. Users can also subscribe to receive city updates including notice of upcoming meetings, career opportunities and news releases,” Laing Gahr says.
 
Although the approved budget was $125,000, the actual cost came in at under $100,000. The final amount is expected to be determined in January.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.