MEDIA RELEASE (September 29, 2017) This month, Council Chambers will be getting a $100,000 upgrade to its audio and visual (AV) system.

“The core of the Council Chambers AV system dates back to 1995 when Town Hall was constructed,” said Kelly Davis, Digital Manager. “Small additions, upgrades and repairs have been made to the system over the past 21 years but the fundamental infrastructure is original and the system has become difficult, with parts becoming scarce and unreliable.”

Along with updating the core infrastructure of the AV system, the following items will also be upgraded:

• New projector and wide dropdown screen to accommodate hi-resolution presentations.
  Video streaming hardware, including automatic cameras and supporting infrastructure to deliver video of council meetings live via the Internet.
• Replace existing Council and Senior Management monitors to accommodate hi-resolution, wide-screen presentations.
• New AV hardware to accommodate viewing/listening of council meetings in the atrium (overflow). When not in use for chamber events, the system will be used for delivering other information in the atrium.
• New accessible podium.

“It’s important to ensure the Town is in-line with current and future technological standards,” said Tom Kuchyt, CAO. “Making the AV system robust and flexible will allow speakers to present their information without compromising audio or video quality as well as give us the ability to live-stream future Council meetings. The live streaming is in line with Council’s efforts to improve transparency and inclusiveness.”

For more information about this project, please contact Kelly Davis, Digital Manager, at 905-871-1600, ext. 2801 or kdavis@forterie.ca.

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