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Following the recent publication of the City of Edmonton's Smart Cities Challenge proposal, available here, Infrastructure Canada has named Edmonton as one of five finalists now vying for the $50 million top prize. The "Healthy City" proposal, released early last month, features the best innovations and ideas to be vetted from among more than 120 submissions on behalf of the people of Edmonton.
Announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister Amarjeet Sohi, minister of Infrastructure and Communities, at an event in Halifax, Edmonton was congratulated alongside fellow finalists Montreal, Quebec City, Waterloo Region, and Vancouver/Surrey.
Speaking on Edmonton's place in the finals, May Don Iveson said, “This is great news for Edmonton and an exciting day for the Smart Cities Challenge team who’ve worked diligently and creatively with Edmontonians. I’m confident that what has got us here — teamwork, innovation and courage — will help establish Edmonton as Canada’s healthiest and smartest city.”
As a finalist, Edmonton will be awarded $250,000 to complete Phase 2, which will focus on building a plan to support connectedness to the community, decrease loneliness, and increase a sense of belonging. Ahead of planning for Phase 2, a series of hackathons, workshops, and surveys will soon be announced. This final submission will go to the committee later this year, with the winner to be announced in 2019.
How do you think Edmonton fares compared to the competition? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
