Toronto Hosts Judge in Bid to be Named World's Most Intelligent Community of the Year

April 16, 2013, Toronto, ON – On April 17 and 18, Toronto will host Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) co-founder Robert Bell as part of the city’s bid to be named the World’s Most Intelligent Community of the Year. During the two-day tour, Mr. Bell will visit some of the city’s leaders in innovation, information and communications technology. He will spend an entire day touring the waterfront area, which is emerging as a new hub of knowledge-based industries.

“We are excited to show Mr. Bell how we are leading the way in promoting the adoption of new and innovative information and communications technology,” says John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. “The open access, ultra-high speed community network we are building is just one example of how our waterfront revitalization is acting as a catalyst for new investment and opportunities for business.”

Toronto is one of seven cities from around the globe in contention to be named 2013 Intelligent Community of the Year by the New York-based ICF, which assesses cities on their broadband deployment and use, workforce development, innovation and digital inclusion.

“The City of Toronto is pleased that Mr. Bell from the Intelligent Community Forum will experience some of the city’s many collaborative environments,” says Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City’s Economic Development Committee. “He will see how the city’s diverse workforce influences our innovation and forges our identity as a global city.”

The tour will include stops at Ryerson’s Digital Media Zone, George Brown College’s Digital Media & Gaming Incubator, Evergreen Brickworks, Waterfront Toronto, Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games, and Sheridan College’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre at Pinewood Studios.

The ICF studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community. ICF co-founder Robert Bell will spend the two days reviewing the efforts that led to Toronto being named one of the seven communities in the world that are on the short list for the title of Intelligent Community of the Year for 2013. “This is the most fascinating part of our annual global search for the Intelligent Community of the Year. The ICF co-founders spend time in each of the Top7 cities and we really get a much better idea of what makes a community a contender,” says Robert Bell.

Intelligent Community Forum
The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies and promotes the best practices of the world’s Intelligent Communities as they adapt to the demands and seize the opportunities presented by information and communications technology (ICT). To help communities build prosperous economies, solve social problems and enrich local cultures, ICF conducts primary research, hosts events, publishes newsletters and books including the most recent, “Seizing Our Destiny”. ICF also produces its high-profile international awards program. For over more than a decade, ICF has become an international movement that attracts the attention of global leaders, thinkers, and media observers. The ICF Foundation consists of 119 cities and regions that have been designated as Intelligent Communities by ICF and which participate in an ongoing global dialogue to strengthen local economies. For more information, go to:http://www.intelligentcommunity.org

Waterfront Toronto
The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.

City of Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.