An ICTC Brief
Collectively Building the Framework to Shape our Future Cities
A Year of Engagement with the ICTC Smart Cities Taskforces
Published by ICTC, March 2020
As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, with cities accounting for the majority of the population growth and economic activity, the topic of smart and sustainable urban development inevitably emerges. With that comes a renewed interest in opportunities for improved efficiency and livability through “smart” interventions, activities, and technological development. In Canada, the notion of a smart city is increasingly gaining momentum, with one of the most significant recent developments being the Government of Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge. Although the winners of this challenge were announced in the spring of 2019, this competition was notable because it helped communities of all sizes and across all regions explore technology-based initiatives that can improve livability. Internationally, many jurisdictions are also engaging in similar challenges and exploring various pathways for the development of future communities.
While not intended to serve as an exhaustive list, this report provides an understanding of notable smart city developments taking place in Canada and around the world. At the same time, this report highlights some of the most resounding and critical themes that emerged from a years’ worth of engagement (eight meetings) with ICTC’s three main smart city taskforces.
Researched and written by Alexandra Cutean (Senior Director, Research & Policy), Rosina Hamoni (Junior Research Analyst), and Trevor Quan (Senior Research Analyst) with generous support from Chris Herron (Junior Research Analyst), Faun Rice (Research & Policy Analyst) and the ICTC Research & Policy team.
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