Problem: Broadband is the new essential utility, as vital to economic growth as clean water and good roads. Intelligent Communities express a strong vision of their broadband future, encourage deployment and adoption, and deploy their own networks where necessary.
Project: Markham Municipal Election - Online Voting Initiative
The highest profile and arguably the most significant project to take advantage of broadband availability is Markham’s Municipal Election - Online Voting initiative. This initiative promotes the use of broadband to reduce barriers to civic engagement and develops the City’s role as a leader in digital democracy.
Learn more about how Markham is leader in Digital Democracy here.
Problem: A knowledge workforce is a labour force that creates economic value through its knowledge, skills and ability to use information effectively.
Intelligent Communities have the determination and demonstrated ability to develop a workforce qualified to perform knowledge work from the factory floor to the research lab, and from the construction site to the call center or corporate headquarters.
From elementary school through higher education and into the workforce, they create ladders of opportunity that engage employers in education and prepare citizens for employment or entrepreneurial opportunities in the local or regional economy.
Project: STEAM Digital Skills Program – Markham Public Library (MPL)
Markham Public Library (MPL) offers a number of different STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts & Math) workshops to schools in the community. Teachers book an appointment with the library to have a Digital Literacy or Outreach Specialist visit their classroom to lead educational activities that include the subjects of Science, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics while allowing students to use new and exciting technologies. Similar programs are available in Library branches for adults and seniors.
The equipment brought into the schools includes robotics, circuitry, and coding resources. The facilitators are trained in executing programs that are educational and interactive. Students are encouraged to engage in experiential learning, collaborate with their peers, take risks that they have thought through, and problem solve. This process, though different from traditional classroom learning, ignites creativity and allows students to develop tangible skills for future success.
As a local government, the City of Markham works closely with diverse stakeholders including local businesses, academic partners, home grown incubators, business/ professional associations and networks, as well as different levels of government to drive innovation in established companies and stimulate new business formation and growth.
Project: Electronic Plan Review Project (ePLAN)
The building application and plan submission and review process has remained unchanged in the industry for many decades.
Most significant projects required clients to engage in several independently run manual application processes. Applicants would submit multiple physical copies for proposed plans and the municipality would “redline” and mark up the paper plans. Documents that had originated electronically such as applications, drawings and studies needed to be printed, delivered to the City, filed and processed in paper form. Reviews would be impacted by the number of copies available and the number of reviewing disciplines/specialities required to process the proposal.
Collaboration between staff and the applicants could only happen in person as physical access to the plans was required. Skilled technical staff would spend hours stamping up and redlining multiple copies of paper and loss of files was a regular occurrence. The sequential, paper-based approach resulted in wasted space and resources, errors and omissions, multiple iterations and long cycle times.
Collaboration: ventureLAB
ventureLAB is a leading technology hub, innovation and incubation centre located in the City of Markham. With a significant tech cluster (the highest per capita concentration of tech companies among major Canadian cities), Markham is home to over 354,000 Canadians, 176,000+ jobs and 1,500+ technology companies that support over 37,000 jobs. Markham provides a direct funding contribution to the operation of ventureLAB and City of Markham senior management is represented on its board.
The digital divide disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities including the economically marginalized. Economic marginalization is a factor in some areas of the community, where access to personal technology in the home is more limited. Older adults are also significantly at risk with respect to having current digital literacy skills to fully participate in a digital environment in our society.
Program #1: Markham Public Library (MPL) Community Makerspace Expansion Project
Program #2: Markham Public Library's Digital Literacy Instruction
A community’s citizens can be a barrier to progress, when they resist change, or can become its most powerful advocates for a better future. Engagement is the slow and difficult process of building a common understanding of the challenges facing the community and a shared vision for overcoming them.
Intelligent Communities devote time and resources to educating and engaging their citizens, businesses and institutions as true partners in understanding challenges, identifying solutions and planning a better future.
Example #1: Building Markham’s Future Together (BMFT): Strategic Plan 2020-2023 Community Consultation
Example #2: Digital Markham Strategy
Environmental sustainability projects improve local quality of life, from cleaner air and water to improved public transportation and greater livability. Communities that use fewer resources to create products and provide services are also more efficient and productive, which is key to continued improvements in their standard of living.
Communities that make environmental sustainability a shared goal typically engage organizations, community groups and neighborhoods in advocating for sustainability programs and activities. These contribute to civic pride, local identity and shared goals.
Example #1: Markham Municipal Energy Plan - Getting to Zero
The City of Markham’s Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) – Getting to Zero is a comprehensive long-term city-wide energy plan with the objective of net zero emissions by 2050.
The goal of the Municipal Energy Plan is to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero as outlined in the Greenprint, Markham’s Community Sustainability Plan.