On a March morning I tuned into CBC Radio One to catch the day’s news. I heard Senator Elaine McCoy speak about Budget 2009, its unique context and its hurried production. Reporting needs were increasing with the added demands of a ‘timely, targeted, and temporary’ stimulus bill. Senator McCoy asked how the stimulus could be tracked for efficacy and timeliness. Further, how can the experiences of those on the ground filter up into the national conversation? Laura Wesley pro-actively responded to the practical needs articulated by Senator McCoy. In turn, I responded to Laura’s initiative. Soon, I was collaborating with a small group to co-ordinate an alternative online resource, dedicated to principles of non-partisanship and open data - StimulusWatch.ca. Or in French - SuividelaRelance.ca

I will contribute to the site’s popular relevance by encouraging the participation of information designers, and other visual specialists. By rendering facts, trends, and patterns of growth in visual terms, the results of a complex process are made interpretable to the average person. By providing multiple channels for contribution and participation, our novel deployment of media is allowing average people to participate in above-average ways.