i-CANADA and its partners today announced nominations are open for a new Canadian awards program called CiPA: the Community i-Performance Awards. The awards are aimed at urban and remote communities, both large and small, that have put in place the best new Canadian innovations, technologies or processes for municipality-related infrastructure, environmental, educational, health, and security or sustainability outcomes. The CiPA Awards will be given out at a special Gala during the World Future Cities Summit, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre October 14-15. The awards Gala is scheduled for the final evening of the Summit.
"i-CANADA established the CiPA Awards because we want Canada to be an exemplary competitor as mass urbanization continues to transform the world," said i-CANADA Chair Bill Hutchison. "Today, cities comprise more than half of humanity and produce some 80% of global wealth. Humanity is in fact undergoing a revolution: by 2050, the human population will have reached 9 billion people — and 75% of them will be living in cities."
CiPA celebrates the champions and visionaries who are organizing their communities into Smart and Intelligent cities and towns where social, business and technological visions are innovative, sustainable and aligned.
"CiPA will shine a spotlight on organizations that are directly involved in innovating and implementing solutions," stated Mr. Hutchison. "It will also be of interest to community Mayors and technology vendors, and anyone else who wants to promote their city's achievements or display successful implementations."
Nominations are being accepted in five CiPA categories:
Citizen-Centricity and Engagement: Recognizes strategically applied information applications and technology in exceptionally innovative solutions that make a difference in delivering superior service to communities.
Civic Efficiency and Operational Improvements: Awards organizations that have implemented innovative applications or IT solutions to improve the performance of internal operations. Nominees must have demonstrated a budget impact such as reduced cost, or other tangible, significant benefit for the organization.
Collaboration between Social and Business Groups: Winners in this category have used collaboration with internal and/or external parties (such as suppliers or alliance partners) to achieve an exceptional outcome for a community.
Infrastructure Innovation: This award recognizes IT infrastructure improvements or enhancements that have contributed to benefits such as increased network speed, improved communication or collaboration, or economic growth for a community.
Innovation Solutions: Winners are projects, solutions or technologies that push the envelope by setting a new standard or trend for others to follow, thereby demonstrating exceptional innovation.
Nominees will be judged by a panel of experts Chaired by Brenda Halloran, CEO of the Waterloo Innovation Centre, and former Mayor of Waterloo, Ontario. Ms. Halloran held the position of Mayor in 2007 when Waterloo won the Intelligent Community of the Year. The Vice Chair is Larry Simon, CEO, Inflection Group Inc.
The new 2015 CiPA Awards are supported by the Municipal Information Systems Association of Canada (MISA), and many other sponsors and supporters. "CiPA will be an annual event accompanying the ongoing World Future Cities Summit," concluded Mr. Hutchison. "We want to focus a steady light on Canadian best practices, both for national awareness and global marketing of Canadian expertise."
