Smart Cities Challenge improving the lives of Canadians through innovation, data, and technology

HALIFAX, June 1, 2018 /CNW/ - By encouraging innovation and the use of data and connected technology, the Government of Canada is empowering communities to become more liveable and inclusive, while creating economic opportunities for Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced the 20 finalists of the Smart Cities Challenge, a new, competition-based approach that encourages communities to come up with innovative solutions to their most pressing issues:

• Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation, Ontario ($5M prize)
• Bridgewater, Nova Scotia ($5M prize)
• Cree Nation of Eastmain, Quebec ($5M prize)
• Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Quebec ($5M prize)
• Yellowknife, Northwest Territories ($5M prize)
• Airdrie and Area, Alberta ($10M prize)
• Communities of Nunavut, Nunavut ($10M prize)
• Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec ($10M prize)
• Greater Victoria, British Columbia ($10M prize)
• Guelph and Wellington County, Ontario ($10M prize)
• Parkland, Brazeau, Lac Ste Anne and Yellowhead Counties, Alberta ($10M prize)
• Richmond, British Columbia ($10M prize)
• Saint Mary's First Nation and Fredericton, New-Brunswick ($10M prize)
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ($10M prize)
• The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and Kelsey, Manitoba ($10M prize)
• Edmonton, Alberta ($50M prize)
• Montreal, Quebec ($50M prize)
• Quebec City, Quebec ($50M prize)
• Region of Waterloo, Ontario ($50M prize)
• Vancouver and Surrey, British Columbia ($50M prize)

More than 200 communities, large and small, from across Canada responded to the Challenge, submitting innovative ideas that have the potential to improve their communities in areas such as reconciliation, protection of Indigenous language and culture, food security, better education and health for youth and children, and affordable housing.

Summaries of the finalists' applications, along with their Challenge Statements and the evaluation criteria are posted on the Impact Canada website. Each finalist will receive a grant of $250,000 to further develop their innovative ideas into final proposals that outline all design, planning, privacy, data protection and project management components of their plans. The four winners will be announced in spring 2019.

Quote

"I am proud to see all the effort that communities have put into engaging with residents and in developing their Smart Cities Challenge proposals. I challenged community leaders to be bold and think outside-the-box, and I am pleased to see that they answered the call through the innovative ideas they submitted. These new ideas will result in positive outcomes for Canada's middle class and improve people's quality of life. I am thrilled at the meaningful, lasting and positive outcomes that this Challenge has already created for communities thus far, and look forward to seeing the final proposals."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

Quick Facts

• Twenty finalists have been selected to go on to compete for four prizes:
• one prize of up to $50 million, available to all communities;
• two prizes of up to $10 million, available to all communities below 500,000 residents; and
• one prize of up to $5 million, available to all communities below 30,000 residents.

Related product

Backgrounder:  https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2018/05/backgrounder--smart-cities-challenge-improving-the-lives-of-canadians-through-innovation-data-and-technology.html

Smart Cities Challenge improving the lives of Canadians through innovation, data, and technology

In November 2017, the Government of Canada challenged communities across the country to develop bold and ambitious ideas to improve the lives of their residents using data and connected technology.

Over 200 communities, large and small, from across Canada submitted their innovative ideas to the Smart Cities Challenge. An independent panel of 13 jury members evaluated these submissions based on the criteria set out in the Applicant Guide.

Twenty finalists have been selected to go on to the next step of the Challenge.

Each finalist community will receive a $250,000 grant to help develop its final proposal that outline all design, planning, privacy, data protection and project management components of their plans. The grant can be used for activities such as staffing, professional services, feasibility assessments, capacity building, pilot projects, community engagement and communications, data, and relevant training.

The Challenge Statements

As part of its application, each community was asked to engage with its residents to come up with a Challenge Statement that defines the outcomes it aims to achieve through its smart cities proposal.

Below are the Challenge Statements submitted by each finalist.

In the prize category of up to $5 million, open to all communities with populations under 30,000 people:

In the prize category of up to $10 million, open to all communities with populations under 500,000 people (2 prizes available):

In the prize category of up to $50 million, open to all communities, regardless of population:

Winners will be announced in spring 2019.

Associated links

Smart Cities Challenge: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cities-villes-eng.html

Impact Canada: https://impact.canada.ca/en/challenges/smart-cities

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Kate Monfette, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-301-0894, [email protected]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_eng

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/