While many municipalities across Canada are leaving X (formerly Twitter) due to concerns over the platform’s policies under owner Elon Musk, the City of Orillia and the Central Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are staying the course, citing the importance of reaching residents through multiple communication channels.
Melissa Gowanlock, manager of communications for the City of Orillia, emphasized the city’s commitment to using a variety of platforms to keep residents informed.
“The City of Orillia remains committed to using a variety of communication tools to provide information to residents and continually evaluates the effectiveness of all social media channels to ensure they align with their communication goals,” she said.
Currently, X is the City’s most-followed corporate social media account, with over 7,000 followers, and engagement on the platform has remained steady. While some municipalities have distanced themselves from X, Orillia continues to use it for real-time updates, particularly for emergency communications from Orillia Fire.
“At this time, the city continues to use X while assessing its role in our communications strategy,” Gowanlock said. “Decisions regarding platform use will be made in accordance with the city’s social media policy.”
She added that the city also actively uses Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, with each platform serving a specific role. Facebook supports broader community engagement and event promotion, LinkedIn focuses on economic development, YouTube is a hub for video content such as council meetings, and Instagram is a key tool for Orillia’s recreation and culture areas.
“As digital platforms evolve, the city remains committed to adapting its communications approach to ensure residents receive information through the channels that best meet their needs,” Gowanlock explained. “We continue to monitor the effectiveness of all platforms, including X, and assess any emerging concerns as part of our ongoing review process.”
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) share a similar approach. Gosia Puzio, a team lead for the corporate communications bureau, said OPP Central Region continually reviews its communication strategies and the platforms it uses.
“Currently, the OPP communicates with the public through multiple platforms, including X, Facebook, and Instagram,” Puzio stated.
Under the Community Safety and Policing Act, police services are required to ensure information is shared to protect and inform the public. Social media plays a key role in that effort.
“Using a variety of platforms helps the OPP reach more people with important information, such as public safety alerts, crime prevention, wanted persons, persons to identify, appeals for witnesses and information, and missing persons,” she said.
According to Puzio, social media engagement has directly contributed to police investigations and public safety efforts. The OPP Central Region X account has over 61,000 followers.
“Using the various social media platforms has resulted in tips and public information that have helped to progress numerous police investigations and locate wanted and missing people,” she noted.
“Diversifying how we communicate with members of the public is part of our commitment to transparency, accountability, and community engagement,” Puzio added.
While the debate over X’s policies continues to spark discussion nationwide, both the City of Orillia and the OPP remain focused on ensuring residents receive timely and essential information through multiple channels.