Jaime Woo is one of Toronto’s fastest up-and-coming communicators. He plays well with others in digital places and creates community and conversation with ease. One of his latest projects to come out of the “social media oven” is the brand new Canadian Lesbian + Gay Archives (CLGA) website, social media integration and community building.

I asked Jaime to tell us the story of how the CLGA got its’ new digital home in the same week it opened its bricks & mortar location:

The original website is at least a decade old, possibly the 1997 listed on the copyright. With the Grand Opening on 34 Isabella St happening this Friday, the Canadian Lesbian + Gay Archives (CLGA) realized it was an opportunity to refresh its online presence and make it more contemporary. (To learn the story of how the CLGA got the house, I think Xtra does a pretty good job here)

I was brought on to the project by Robert Windrum, Board Secretary and Dennis Findlay, Vice President of the CLGA, to help freshen the look of the site. I drew up a concept that would make the site cleaner and more accessible to anyone who wanted to know the Archives better. It simplifies the layout and increases the use of images to draw people in. Graphic designer Greg Andrews of Spitfire Designs did the web design and CLGA volunteer Marc Lalonde worked tirelessly to develop the site.

I think web presence is one of the most powerful tools for nonprofits and yet it is serially neglected. A website that is well-designed and informative goes a long way in furthering both an organization’s reputation and perception. There were many exciting things happening with the CLGA and the website didn’t project that. There was a lot of discussion about how a user will experience the new site and what were the aspects of the CLGA to highlight online.

With a new website also came a chance to expand the online presence with Facebook and Twitter. (You can find us at www.twitter.com/clgarchives.) When I first started with the Archives, I absolutely fell in love with the volunteers there: their stories, their passion, their humour. It’s not what you expect from an archive. Hopefully, using tools like Facebook and Twitter will give people an inside look at the personality and warmth from this organization.

There already is a CLGA blog (clgaengagement.blogspot.com) and one of the things we still have to do is consolidate the branding to make it more consistent across the board. What’s great about the CLGA is the optimism it has towards incorporating new technology to support its work. CLGA President Martin Lanigan has consistently supported the process.

In time, there will also be photos and videos online that show how the CLGA is keeping the stories of the Canadian queer community alive. The best thing about being online is how easily we can reach people from coast to coast. There’s a lot of great material to share and we want the site to become a place where people can come and get a sense of what the CLGA is all about.