NEW YORK CITY – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) has selected 11 Canadian municipalities to join the list of the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2018.
The Canadian cities include Hamilton, ON; Niagara Falls, ON; Olds, AB; Sarnia-Lambton, ON; Kelowna, BC; Parkland County, AB; Pickering, ON; Western Valley, NS; Winnipeg, MB; York Region, ON; and St. Albert, AB.
The Smart21 are selected by ICF based on quantitative and qualitative data submitted to the Forum, which are evaluated by a group of analysts. The analysis is based on the six Intelligent Community Indicators, which provide the conceptual framework for understanding the factors that determine a community's competitiveness in economic, social and cultural terms. The 2018 Awards program focuses on the theme of Humanizing Data, which explores the intersection between big data and open data, and the impacts of a data-driven economy on communities.
Selection of this group begins the eight-month process through which ICF will name one of them as its 2018 Intelligent Community of the Year on June 7 during an awards dinner at the ICF Global Summit in London.
Clearcable president Rob McCann, who is also chair of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Digital Infrastructure Working Group, said the nomination is a great opportunity to showcase Hamilton.
“The city is currently in a transition from traditional industry to technology and the arts”, he said in a statement. “I think this newest accolade will only add to the growing reputation of the City.”
