A two-decade track record of success in public-sector communications.
Strategy
Changing outputs to outcomes.
Many public-sector performance metrics focus on outputs, like meeting the minimum requirements of grant funding. While necessary, this doesn’t show the real impact of the work. We prefer to shift the focus to outcomes—directly linking actions to results that matter to the public.
Our strategic guidance is both informed by a history of successful public-sector projects and tailored to the specific needs of each client.
- Surge-capacity critical event support
- Brand audit, alignment and refinement
- Advocacy and government relations activities
- Awareness and engagement campaigns
- Media relationship management
- Creative development and ideation
Technology
Purpose-driven digital infrastructure.
Our approach is centred on leveraging modern digital platforms and purpose-built applications to enhance transparency, improve public engagement, and streamline internal processes. You won’t find us hawking a black-box product or taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we focus on building custom, integrated platforms, systems and solutions that align with each client’s specific goals.
We help clients embrace technology not just for the sake of being modern, but to genuinely improve how they serve their communities.
- Website and web application development
- Website migration, implementation and QA
- E-commerce architecture and integration
- Customer journey development
- User experience design
Design
Cohesive, impactful brand experiences.
In today’s media landscape, audiences consume information across numerous platforms—from print materials and public signage to websites, social media, and digital portals. Our classical training and slavish attention to detail ensure that the visual identity, tone of voice, and core messaging of each client remain consistent across all these channels. This is not just about having a matching logo; it’s about creating an integrated user experience that builds trust and recognition.
Our approach maximizes the reach and impact of every communication touchpoint, ensuring that key messages resonate with the community regardless of the platform.
- Print and Physical Design: Developing professional, on-brand materials like annual reports, brochures, public notices, and signage that are clear, accessible, and visually compelling.
- Digital Design and UX: Creating intuitive and engaging digital interfaces, including websites, email newsletters, and social media graphics. This ensures that online interactions are seamless and reflect the organization’s brand identity.
- Multimedia Production: Producing high-quality videos, infographics, and interactive content that can be easily adapted and distributed across various platforms, from a municipal YouTube channel to a local television broadcast.
Preserving the Public Trust: Crisis Communications for the Public Sector
Municipal brands are built on public trust. When facing down a disaster or controversy, that brand is your most valuable—and most fragile—asset.
Our crisis management offering is built on the reality that communication isn't just about optics—it’s about maintaining the authority to lead when it matters most.
Client Support
A partnership in service and growth.
Through our tiered support options, we transcend traditional vendor relationships to act as a true partner in the success of our clients. These services are designed to address both the immediate needs and long-term goals of local governments, from ensuring the stability of their digital infrastructure to mentoring their teams and providing strategic guidance during a crisis.
We stand with our clients to help them navigate complex challenges, communicate effectively with their communities, and build a stronger, more resilient public service.
Crisis Management: Our strategy focuses on four pillars to ensure your voice remains the single source of truth:
- Radical Transparency: We help you deploy messaging that acknowledges the knowns and unknowns, cutting through the noise to provide actionable clarity.
- Rapid-Response Infrastructure: From emergency alerts to social media monitoring, we ensure your team is proactive, not reactive.
- Trust Calibration: We analyze community sentiment in real-time to ensure your messaging resonates with the specific needs and fears of your constituents.
- Post-event audit: We facilitate after-action communication cycles to close the loop with internal or external audiences.
Technical Services: We provide hosting and security solutions, including hosting municipal websites on dedicated cloud-based servers in Canada. This ensures a stable, reliable platform for public-facing information and helps maintain high performance, especially during high-traffic events. We also implement security and redundant backup best practices to protect client data and systems.
Ad Hoc Communications: We are a trusted partner in crisis communications management, providing real-time support during emergencies such as wildfires or floods. This includes providing agile, accurate messaging and helping manage media relations and social media channels. We also assist with emerging issues, developing issues management plans and providing strategic counsel to help municipalities navigate and respond to brewing public concerns.
Team Development: Tangent Civic is a partner in mentoring internal communications teams. We work with municipal staff to build their capacity, offering hands-on assistance, professional development, and strategic guidance. This support helps in-house teams become more efficient, professional, and better equipped to handle day-to-day communications as well as critical events.