Taipei, Taiwan Named the World’s Top Intelligent Community

(June 9, 2006) WATERLOO, ON – The Intelligent Communities Forum (ICF) has recognized Taipei, Taiwan as being the world’s Top Intelligent Community 2006, an honour that acknowledges the community that best exemplifies the development of a prosperous economy based on broadband and information technology.

Among those on the prestigious list of the Top 7 communities, Waterloo was the only Canadian City and one of only two cities in North America, the other being Cleveland, Ohio.  Rounding out the Top 7 were Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea; Ichikawa, Japan; Manchester, England; and Tianjin, China.

“Being on the list of the Top Seven Intelligent communities has been an honour,” says Mayor Herb Epp. “When you consider the work that is being done not only across Canada but around the world to advance the use of broadband, and to build communities that leverage technology, it is quite an accomplishment to be named among the Top 7 Communities.”

Lou Zacharilla, ICF Director of Development, referred to Waterloo as a poster child of what an intelligent community can accomplish. “I tell people all over the world that Waterloo is one of the sparkling gems of our intelligent communities,” Zacharilla said. “Given some of the advantages that they've made for themselves, it would be easy to rest on their accomplishments, but in Waterloo, that doesn’t happen. As a Top 7 Intelligent Community, Waterloo is a community that others can look to, where they can see that what an intelligent community can look like. There is continuous job creation, and a continuous focus by municipal government and by all of the sectors on moving forward and on continually enhancing this intelligent community.” 

“I congratulate the City of Waterloo for placing among the top seven intelligent communities," said Ontario Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty. "Research and innovation are critical to building a high-wage, high-quality-of-life economy for Ontario families.  That's why we're so proud to work with innovative cities like Waterloo to ensure Ontario stands above the crowd in the knowledge-based, global economy.”

In November, the ICF announced that Waterloo was among the ‘Smart 21’ communities, placing Waterloo in the list of semi-finalists being considered for the Top Seven list, which was announced in January. ICF is a special interest group within the World Teleport Association that focuses on the uses of broadband technology for economic development by communities large and small in both the developed and developing world.

Each year, ICF selects communities from around the world to appear on its list of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year. These seven communities are selected based on indicators that include the significant deployment of broadband communications, the extent to which the community enables a knowledge workforce, the promotion of digital democracy, the ability to foster innovation, and effective economic development marketing that leverages the community’s broadband, labor and other assets to attract new employees.

Waterloo’s nomination credits several organizations that include the universities, hospitals, libraries and schools as well as companies such as RIM, Open Text, Sybase, DALSA and many others that export their products, technology and services around the world. It also notes the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, The Centre for International Governance Innovation, The Institute for Quantum Computing, The Research and Technology Park, and the presence of Communitech and Canada’s Technology Triangle as being further reflections of leadership as an Intelligent Community. 

“We were very proud when Waterloo was named as one of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities,” says Waterloo Councillor Mark Whaley, a member of the steering committee. “This is the first year that we have participated in this process and our success is a reflection of the fact that we are a city where technology and innovation is fostered in a way that truly does build community. That has many benefits for our residents, for our businesses and for our collective, sustainable future.” 

To participate in the Intelligent Community process, a community steering committee was formed that included public sector, private sector and not for profit representatives. The committee members are:
Jim Balsillie, RIM (Honourary Chair)
Councillor Mark Whaley
Steve McCartney, Atria Networks
Chris Copp, Copp Communications Incorporated
Garry Bezruki, City of Waterloo
Sunshine Chen, Community Volunteer
Don Cowan, University of Waterloo
Vic Degutis, Waterloo Region Catholic School Board
Shirley Fenton, Computer Systems Group
Bruce Hawkins, City of Waterloo
Ellen Jones, Waterloo Public Library
Cathy Matyas, Waterloo Public Library
Patti McKague, City of Waterloo
Mike McKeever, Waterloo Public Library
Ken McLaughlin, University of Waterloo
Doug Mulholland, Computer Systems Group
Bill Weiler, Community Volunteer
Simon Farbrother, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Waterloo (Chair)

“In Waterloo, there are countless ways that organizations, businesses and individuals leverage technology and broadband in innovative ways,” said Simon Farbrother, CAO and Chair of Waterloo’s Intelligent Community Committee. “As a committee, we will continue to leverage opportunities to work together and to enhance our intelligent community.”