A Questionnaire to Complement Participation Tools in the Development of the City of Dorval’s Cultural Policy

The City of Dorval, located in the western part of the Island of Montreal, is home to approximately 19,300 residents (2021). Founded in 1667, Dorval has grown into a vibrant intercultural hub, offering a rich and diverse cultural life. It features the Dorval Museum of History and Heritage, a bilingual interactive cultural center, several art galleries, and a growing enthusiasm for outdoor events held in waterfront parks (Pine Beach Park and Millennium Park). The municipal library hosts events for all ages, along with summer festivities such as “Dorval en fête.”

The Consultation

The City of Dorval sought to gather input from the widest possible pool of citizens about their vision for culture in Dorval. Focus groups and in-person consultations were held. In parallel, an online survey hosted on the Cocoriko platform aimed to broaden the consultation's reach. In total, 375 people took the time to answer an ambitious online questionnaire made up of 39 questions divided into 9 sections. The City made effective use of multiple-choice and slider questions to provide clear and precise prompts that allowed participants to move quickly through the survey.

The questionnaire took approximately 15 minutes to complete. The ability to pause and return later likely contributed to a positive user experience. Although the consultation also included other components, the online version ensured broader, more inclusive participation, particularly for those unable to attend in person.

The City used its usual communication channels to promote the consultation to its population, with a visual identity developed specifically for the project.

Project Support and Analysis

The consulting firm Zeste Conseils supported the City of Dorval throughout the consultation process. They analyzed responses collected both online and in person to paint a representative picture of public participation.

Success and Next Steps

The consultation on the cultural policy successfully engaged a broad range of citizens, marking a true success in terms of participation. This was the first large-scale consultation conducted using the Cocoriko platform, and it unfolded smoothly. The City particularly appreciated Cocoriko for:

• Its easily accessible bilingual format for both administrators and participants;
• The survey creation process, which, after a learning curve, proved to be user-friendly through the programming interface;
• The availability of Excel and CSV reports for response analysis.