Vaughan extends global presence as Smart City leader: Mayor Bevilacqua
City of Vaughan participates
in 2019 Smart City Summit and Expo
Smart
City initiatives are creating enhanced opportunities by improving the way data
is collected, understood and utilized to safeguard and elevate the quality of
life for citizens, as well as enhance the delivery of public services people
and businesses rely on each day, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said. The Mayor’s
comments come as the City takes part in the 2019 Smart City Summit and Expo in Taipei,
Taiwan, from March 25 to 29.
The City
was formally invited by conference organizers to join this international
conference, which brings together thought leaders from local government, along
with recognized professionals from public- and private-sector organizations. Representing
the City are Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, vice-chair of the Mayor’s
Smart City Advisory Task Force; Dennis Cutajar, director, Economic and Cultural
Development; and Smart City industry expert Bill Hutchinson, who served as a
facilitator and consultant on the Mayor’s Smart City Advisory Task Force. Mr.
Hutchinson has also been retained because of his extensive experience undertaking
Smart City work in important Asian markets.
This
global gathering will present opportunities to share existing best practices,
learn about emerging and innovative trends in city-building and actively engage
economic development leads. This mission is consistent with a June 12, 2018
report to Council which calls on staff to “identify best practices from cities
around the world that have implemented successful Smart City initiatives to
solve challenges based on citizen priorities.”
In 2018,
Mayor Bevilacqua established the Mayor’s Smart City Advisory Task Force to
advance a culture of knowledge and pursue continuous improvement. The group
included accomplished representatives with extensive professional experience in
the fields of: arts, culture and media; city infrastructure; construction and
development; education; environmental sustainability; financial services;
healthcare; information and technology; innovation and research; manufacturing;
and social issues. There were also seven citizen representatives on the task force.
The work
undertaken by the task force led to a comprehensive submission for the City’s
participation in the Government of Canada’s Smart Cities
Challenge. The heart of the submission calls for the use of Smart City
technology to create a Digital Garden. The Digital Garden concept is about
breaking down barriers, improving social cohesion and enhancing engagement and
civic participation through the creation of community kiosks, known as Local
Gardens. Kiosks would include Internet of things (IoT) sensors to gather data
on traffic, parking, air quality and attendance at events; provide administrative
City procedures, such as online payments and digital deputations; and offer a one-stop
shop for government services, including Service Ontario offerings, among other
innovative amenities.
The
City’s 2019 Budget and 2020-2022 Financial Plan includes approval for a new
Smart City study. These efforts will aid greatly in the City’s work to establish
a formal Smart City business unit within the Economic and Cultural Development
department.
At a
meeting of Council on March 19, Council endorsed Mayor Bevilacqua’s Member’s
Resolution for the City of Vaughan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with US
Ignite and to join the organization’s Smart Gigabit Community. Joining the
Smart Gigabit Community will allow Vaughan to strengthen professional networks,
access innovative best practices and improve organizational and technical
capabilities. It marks another important step forward to build on the City’s
focused efforts to be a Smart City leader.
QUOTE
“The global community is taking notice of our
dedicated efforts to make Smart City initiatives a priority. Vaughan is on the leading edge of innovation
and we remain a leader of Smart City initiatives. As we look toward the future, we will remain
unwavering in our efforts to build a safe, welcoming and engaged city where all
people are given every opportunity possible to live happy, healthy and
fulfilling lives. From improving infrastructure and roads to recreation and
healthcare, taking a Smart City approach to our work is fundamental to
delivering efficient, reliable and forward-looking city-building.”
-
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
QUICK FACTS
- Vaughan has begun its digital transformation through the development and implementation of its Digital Strategy.
- Technology has played a vital role in the City’s evolution. The City has embraced the World Council on City Data (WCCD), and in January 2016 Vaughan became the second municipality in Canada to be WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certified and will be the first city to pilot the new Smart Cities standard ISO 37122.
- Vaughan’s first hospital – the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital – will be Canada’s first smart hospital and feature fully integrated “smart” technology systems and medical devices.
- The City’s participation in the Summit was approved during a meeting of Council on Feb. 12, 2019.
LEARN MORE
- Taipei 2019 Smart City Summit and Expo staff report
- vaughan.ca/SmartCity
- Smart City Advisory Task Force Update and Recommendations (PDF)
- City of Vaughan Submission: Government of Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge (PDF)
- Vaughan becomes first Canadian municipality to join US Ignite
- US Ignite
- Municipal World: Digital Strategy for a Smart City – co-authored by City of Vaughan Chief Information Officer Frank Di Palma (June 2017) (PDF)
- 2019 Budget and 2020-2022 Financial Plan (PDF)
- City of Vaughan Digital Strategy 2.0 (PDF)
- Mayor Bevilacqua’s 2018 to 2022 inaugural address
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