Canada's Annapolis Valley has been certified as the world’s first “Smart and Sustainable Rural Region” under ISO 37120.
The Annapolis Valley (in Nova Scotia, Canada) has been certified as the world’s first “Smart and Sustainable Rural Region” by the World Council
on City Data, under ISO 37120. The Annapolis Valley received Gold
Certification level, which puts it in the top ranks of cities across the globe.
“This recognition will help to position the
Annapolis Valley as a smart, sustainable, prosperous and inclusive community,”
said WCCD President & CEO, Dr.
Patricia McCarney. “Through
high-calibre, standardized and independently verified data, the Annapolis
Valley joins the WCCD’s Global Network of communities, all united by high-calibre,
standardized and independently verified data. In addition, to help improve
citizen quality of life, this data will also become attractive for investors
from around the world.”
“A new day has dawned for Sustainable and
Smart Communities – and has begun here, in Nova Scotia, said i-Valley President Terry Dalton. For the first time, a region has been certified that
is made up of many communities, large and small, spread across a rural
region. The Annapolis Valley has made a
statement not only for itself but for all of the rural communities around the
world that can now follow this example.”
Peter
Muttart, Mayor of the Municipality of Kings,
noted “ISO certification will be a testament to the world that the Annapolis Valley has made a commitment to those
here and to those who may wish to come that we are a progressive educational
and economic region. Progress cannot be interrupted by municipal boundaries. We
are well-advised to position ourselves as globally comparable to the best
through this standardized ISO measurement, enhancing and telegraphing our
competitive position to future investors from all regions of the world.”
The certification
project was supported by the Valley Regional Enterprise Network, whose
Chair, David Ritcey, stated that “Data gathered across major themes like
education, finance and the economy, will help our organization, local industry,
municipal governments and others create greater prosperity for our
region. It will benchmark areas for improvement that will be needed to
support collective growth in the Valley. We look forward to having a
‘benefits’ meeting for all stakeholders later in the year.”
“The certification process took almost two
years,” commented Mr. Dalton.
“The measurements and data were spread across many jurisdictional
levels. Now that we have done it, it will be easier to keep going, and valuable
as a measurement of progress and a way to promote inter-regional cooperation. We are indebted to all the CAOS and Mayors in
our communities who worked hard on this. I also wish to acknowledge the skilled
work of our Principal Researcher, Amin Helal.”
The Annapolis Valley is
approximately twice the size of an average English County, extending a length
of 125 km. Two mountainous ridges
produce a "micro-climate" which provides relatively mild temperatures
for the region and, coupled with the fertile glacial sedimentary soils on the
valley floor, makes the region conducive to growing vegetable and fruit.
“The certification process took almost two
years,” commented Mr. Dalton.
“The measurements and data were spread across many jurisdictional
levels. Now that we have done it, it will be easier to keep going, and valuable
as a measurement of progress and a way to promote inter-regional
cooperation. We are indebted to all the
CAOS and Mayors in our communities who worked hard on this. I also wish to
acknowledge the skilled work of our Principal Researcher, Amin Helal.”
