Mississauga Was Just Named One Of The Most Intelligent Communities In The World
The city was recognized for being a "business" and "technology" centre.
The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) named the top seven intelligent communities from around the globe and Mississauga scored a spot.
The list was announced on June 30, at the end of the forum's three-day virtual conference, and Canada scored big, with two never-before-listed communities and three overall nominations.
The top seven communities were in Canada, Russia, Brazil, Australia, and Vietnam and were named as "models of economic, social and cultural development in the digital age."
The top seven communities listed were:
- Binh Duong Smart City, Vietnam
- Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Langley Township, British Columbia, Canada
- Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Moscow, Russia
- Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Intelligent Community Forum recognized Mississauga for being a "business and technology center in its own right," with strides in online systems like its cloud-based system, which connects citizens to the government, and its small-business program called Digital Main Street.
Mississauga was also recognized for its "Building Skilled Talent Together program [which provides] training for secondary and post-secondary students in the skills most in demand by local employers."
What Happens Next?
The seven cities are now contenders to be named the 2021 Intelligent Community of the Year, according to a press release.
The community receiving the title will be named at the ICF Summit in October 2021. Luckily, Canada has three contenders in the mix with Mississauga, Ontario; Langley Township, B.C., and Winnipeg, Manitoba.