IESO IRRP
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Setting the goal
The Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) microsite is the first in a series of smaller sites focused on explaining regional planning work in Ontario.
Previously, this information lived mostly on the main IESO website, which made it harder for people to find and follow. The new microsite gives IRRP its own space, designed to be easier to navigate, easier to update, and tailored to the needs of communities and stakeholders.
TEAM
Project manager | Darrell Corriveau
Lead designer | Darrell Corriveau
Lead developer | Justin Hope
MY ROLE
Client | IESO
Scope | Microsite development
Role | Front end developer
TOOLS
Hugo
Sass
Figma
Git
THE CHALLENGE
How do you turn complex, technical planning work into clear content that people can actually use and trust?
This project needed to do a lot at once: explain detailed planning processes, support different audiences, and act as a pilot for future IESO engagement work. On top of that, the team was adopting Hugo and Sass under tight timelines, so the build also had to be realistic to maintain over time.
THE PROCESS
01
Content structure
Organized the microsite around three main planning phases: demand forecasts and needs, informing and engaging on options, and recommendations. Built regional drill down navigation that connects people to IRRP pages at different points in the process.
02
Technical implementation
Set up custom Hugo templates and partials so content could be updated without touching the structure each time. Used Sass to build responsive layouts, supported by a lot of hands on research into Hugo’s documentation to solve specific layout and templating problems.
03
Multi language support
Built a full French mirror of the site and added GTA factsheets in priority languages. Used simple phase graphics so people can quickly see where each plan is in the overall process.
THE OUTCOMES
3
Three rollout stages from October 2024 through August 2025
2
Business day turnaround for minor content updates
12
Month support commitment with weekly update capacity
KEY FEATURES
Regional navigation
A home page overview that links to individual IRRP pages (Toronto IRRP, York IRRP) at different stages of development, all framed within a clear GTA perspective.
Progress visualization
Simple, branded phase graphics that make it easy to see status across plans, paired with short explanations of past work and ongoing reliability efforts.
Future feedback
Designed with a clear path for Stage 2, which will add community input tools and feedback mechanisms starting in early 2025.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
This project showed how fast learning, clear content, and a phased approach can work together.
Learning Hugo and Sass on a live project under real deadlines reinforced the value of picking up new frameworks quickly and documenting decisions as you go. Translating technical planning work into plain language helped more audiences understand what was happening, and a phased rollout created room for feedback and iteration. Reusable templates and patterns also made it easier to support a two business day turnaround for small updates.
The IRRP microsite now acts as both a communication tool and a pilot for future engagement work, offering a model for how public agencies can talk about complex infrastructure planning in a more open, approachable way.
