In proof that a city is more than its political parts, Toronto has been named one of the world’s
7 most intelligent communities.
The designation comes from the Intelligent Community Forum, the
13-year-old international organization that rates communities based on "policies and practices that are creating positive economic, governing and social activity."
The
2014 shortlist is the most geographically concentrated in the ICF’s history, with two cities each from Taiwan and the US, and three from Canada.
The list includes Hsinchu City and New Taipei City in Taiwan, Arlington, Virginia, and Columbus, Ohio, and Kingston, Winnipeg and Toronto.
According to the ICF, Toronto is cited specifically for its "renowned waterfront development that will provide Internet at 500 times the speed of conventional residential networks."
Representatives from the ICF will be visiting the shortlisted cities over the next several months, and the final decision will be made in New York City in June.
According to Kristina Verner, Waterfront Toronto’s director of Intelligent Communities, the importance of this designation "is largely economic development, in terms of brand recognition that there is the technological capacity, as well as the innovation and workforce capacity, for emerging businesses."
Last year’s winner was Taichung City, Taiwan. Toronto was also on
last year's shortlist.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Kristina Verner