Stratford Hits the ICF Top Seven! Again!
 On Wednesday January 18, 2012, the City of Stratford was once again awarded the coveted designation of Top 7 Intelligent Community by the Intelligent Community Forum. And once again, Stratford is the smallest city among this year’s winners. The other communities attaining the Top 7 designation were:
Austin, Texas – Population 812,000
Oulu, Finland – Population 142,000
Quebec City, Canada – Population 512,000
Riverside, California – Population 304,000
Saint John, New Brunswick – Population 68,000
Taichun City, Taiwan – Population 2,650,000
Another interesting fact about the Top 7 communities is that three of the winners are Canadian. It is just shows the world that Canada can be a world leader in the digital economy. The Intelligent Community Forum recognizes communities from around the world that embrace the broadband economy and use technology to enhance competitiveness, innovation and digital inclusion. ICF seeks to share best practices in adapting the demands of the broadband economy in order to help other communities adapt in this fast changing landscape.
The theme for 2012 was Intelligent Communities – Platforms for Innovation. The theme focused on how Intelligent Communities create uniquely powerful innovation ecosystems on a foundation of information and communications technology. Innovation in Intelligent Communities brings together business, government and institutions in a dynamic partnership that produces results ranging from better and cheaper service delivery to citizens to the birth and growth of entrepreneurial businesses and vital new institutions. Intelligent Communities are pioneers in the complex collaboration that powers innovation today and are experts at building an innovation culture that attracts talent, investment and global recognition. By becoming platforms for innovation, Intelligent Communities create a better life for citizens on all rungs of the economic ladder and a vibrant future for the next generation.
Stratford now advances to the final round of the competition with the winner being announced in June at the Broadband Economy summit in New York City.
Stay up-to-date with Stratford — Inteligent Community 2011:    
On Friday June 3, 2011,The Intelligent Community Forum awarded the Intelligent Community of the World to Eindhoven, Netherlands. Stratford is proud and honoured to have made it to the Top 7 on the planet and congratulates Eindhoven on being named the 2011 Top Intelligent Community.
View Article from Public Sector Digest - Intelligent Connectivity at the City of Stratford — August 2011
View Media Release - The City of Stratford Among the Best in the World! — June 3, 2011
View Article from The Beacon Herald - Stratford Fails to Win Smart City Crown — June 3, 2011
View Article from The Beacon Herald - Cities Can be Small and Smart — June 2, 2011
View Article from The Beacon Herald - Mathieson on Wireless Alert Today — June 2, 2011
View Article from The Beacon Herald - City already a winner at Smart City Forum — June 1, 2011
Stratford Named Top 7 Smart City, January 2011
On Wednesday January 19, 2011, the City of Stratford was one of seven municipalities on this planet that was awarded the coveted position of being a 2011 Top 7 Community by the Intelligent Communities Forum. With a population of 32,000, Stratford is the smallest city among the Top 7.
To quote our mayor, “We are incredibly proud of our community. To be named as a Top 7 Smart City in the world recognizes the City of Stratford’s commitment to innovation and continuous evolution as a leader in the knowledge economy.”
The Intelligent Community Forum recognizes communities from around the world that embrace the broadband economy and use technology to enhance competitiveness, innovation and digital inclusion. ICF seeks to share best practices in adapting the demands of the broadband economy in order to help other communities adapt in this fast changing landscape.
The theme for 2011 was Health in the Intelligent Community, which examines efforts by local government, institutions and businesses to improve the delivery and management of healthcare using information and communications technology in order to enhance the health of residents, reduce costs and create business opportunities for local employers.
Stratford now advances to the final round of the competition which will announce the Intelligent Community of 2011 at the Broadband Economy summit in New York City on June 3, 2011.
Blog 'When The Train Did Not Make It Through Town' Railroad Whistles (Part Three) - ICF
View Article from The Beacon Herald - City's digital reinvention pays dividends.
New blog site dedicated to spreading the story of Stratford’s burgeoning technology culture, position as a digital technology centre and internationally recognized “Smart City”.
VIDEO - ICF's Co-Founder Louis Zacharilla Announces Top Seven for 2011
Intelligent Community Forum Announces Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2011
View Article from The Beacon Herald - City as smart as they come.
Stratford Named Smart City, October 2010
On Thursday, October 21, 2010, the City of Stratford was recognized as one of the Top 21 most intelligent communities in the world by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). This is the first year that Stratford has been honoured with this designation. The New York-based think-tank announced that Stratford has made its prestigious list of Smart21 Communities of 2011, recognizing those who have embraced the broadband economy and use technology to enhance competitiveness, innovation and inclusion within it. The Intelligent Community Forum studies the economic and social development of the 21st Century community. ICF seeks to share the best practices of the world’s Intelligent Communities in adapting to the demands of the Broadband Economy, in order to help communities everywhere find sustainable renewal and growth.
This year’s application theme was Health in the Intelligent Community, which examines efforts by local government, institutions and businesses to improve the delivery and management of healthcare using information and communications technology in order to enhance the health of residents, reduce costs and create business opportunities for local employers.
Stratford now advances to the next round of the competition, which will narrow the global field to the Top 7. The City will be studied further and will provide additional data to the ICF evaluation committee. It has been a team process under the leadership of Mayor Dan Mathieson that included citizens, many city departments, the Stratford Public Library, local businesses, the healthcare industry, technology associations, educational institutions, and several supportive vendors who have helped Stratford achieve this recognition.
Of the 21 finalists at this stage, six are from the U.S., four from Canada (Windsor-Essex, Quebec City and Winnipeg), two from China and one each from the U.K., France, Netherlands, Greece, Hungary, India, Taiwan, Australia and Brazil.
With a population of 32,000, Stratford is the smallest city among the 21. The largest city, Chongqing, has 1,000 times as many people, with a population of 32 million.
VIDEO - Lloyd Robertson, Chief Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV's National Evening Newscast CTV News with Lloyd Robertson, comments on Stratford's Smart 21 Designation, January 2011.
VIDEO - National News Anchorman Peter Mansbridge comments on
Stratford's Smart 21 Designation - December 2010.
VIDEO - Motorola: Delivering Enhanced Municipal Services in Stratford, Ontario
New Goal: Smart 21 to Top 7
Rhyzome Interviews with Community Stakeholders on the Wi-Fi Broadband (YouTube Video Links)
Intelligent Community Forum Announces Smart21 Communities of 2011
Letter of Support from Canadian Digital Media Network
Letter of Support from Open Text
More and more businesses attracted to Stratford's forward-thinking approach
View Article from The Beacon Herald - Stratford Named Smart City
Intelligent Community Forum Announces Smart21 Communities of 2011
The Intelligent Community Forum
Case Study: Stratford Becomes a "SMART CITY" with Motorola Wireless Solutions
Stay up-to-date with Stratford — Inteligent Community 2011:
|
Accessibility
City News