District of Squamish is seeking partners to solve civic issues through technology and data for Smart Cities Challenge, an initiative of Infrastructure Canada, which launched the Smart Cities Challenge to empower communities to kick start a new way of thinking.
Potential partnerships could come from within or outside of Squamish from the private sector, education, not-for-profit organizations, or other orders of government.
The District of Squamish is exploring an application to the Smart City Challenge and is seeking partnerships to develop innovative solutions that will address its local priorities, said Squamish media spokesperson Christina Moore.
Prizes of up to $50 million are being offered by the federal government. The real goal, however, is to develop innovative, future-focused solutions to societies’ civic issues and forge strategic economic partnerships. The deadline to express interest in becoming a partner in this collaboration is February 23, 2018.
Six primary areas of focus have been defined by Infrastructure Canada for the challenge including economic opportunity, empowerment and inclusion, environmental quality, healthy living and recreation, mobility, and safety and security.
The Smart Cities Challenge can be focused on a variety of municipal systems or service areas such as: arts and culture, education and training, economic development, emergency services and enforcement, transportation, environment and land use planning.
It should incorporate a number of technology-based solutions from cloud computing to autonomous and connected infrastructure and vehicles.
The District plans to use the draft policies contained within the Squamish 2040 Official Community Plan draft (OCP) that is nearing completion to provide guidance for selecting a project with which to proceed.
A Request for Information from potential partners has been issued, with a deadline of February 23, 2018 at 2 p.m.: https://www.merx4.merx.com/public/solicitations/676314273/abstract
“Exploring partnerships for this Challenge will help Squamish to further our goals of becoming a socially and economically resilient and progressive community into the future,” says Mayor Patricia Heintzman.
