Yorkton is a growing city, but for many new residents it can be difficult. For example, finding rental accommodations can be a challenge for anyone moving in the city. The City of Yorkton has launched a new website with the aim of helping people settle into the community.
The site, movingtoyorkton.ca, was launched last week in the city, with the goal of being a "clearing house" of information on services available in Yorkton, as well as having rental listings available in one place. Mayor Bob Maloney says that the site is something that is necessary due to the growth that is being experienced in town.
"I know when I've hired people and they move to Yorkton, the first thing they're asking is who do I talk to about finding a place to rent, where do I go? Now for employers, they will be able to say 'go to movingtoyorkton.ca and take a look.' We'll have rental information, eduction information... all of the information is on one website," Maloney says.
Anyone with a rental property can set up an account on the site, and create a listing. Staff from the City of Yorkton will moderate the listings, which appear immediately after they are created, and all listings expire after 60 days unless action is taken to extend them.
The seed funding for the project was funded by the Ministry of the Economy, through the Municipal Online Information for Immigrants Grant Program. The grant gave the city $30,000 for the site, and the major components of the site are based on what immigrants to the city need, explains Faisal Anwar, Economic Development Officer for the City of Yorkton.
As a result, the site is focused on providing links to various newcomer services as well as rental and accommodation information. There will also be information on job opportunities and volunteer opportunities.
Anwar says that the city has been in need of a "one stop shop" for this information and adds, that when he moved to Yorkton it was a struggle to find information, especially when it came to rental accommodation.
The site is not completely perfect at the moment, there are some minor display issues on older versions of Internet Explorer, and administration is in the process of informing landlords about the service. Anwar promises the site will steadily improve to meet the needs of people.
