Tuesday 15 December 2020

Charlottetown joins the WCCD Network at the Highest, Platinum Level

   

 (Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Charlottetown's website)


December 15, 2020


The City of Charlottetown is pleased to announce that the City has received World Council on City Data (WCCD) ISO 37120 Platinum Certification. Charlottetown is now among a select group of 100 cities in a global network that have reported over 90 of the 104 indicators within WCCD’s ISO 37120 standard for city data. The City has thus reached the highest standard available in collecting, distributing, and employing data to make efficient decisions at the municipal level.

At a certification ceremony on Monday, December 14th, the WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney presented Council with the WCCD Certification. She was also joined by Mr. Sean Casey, MP. Mr. Casey represented Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Hon. Catherine McKenna. This recognition, and the WCCD initiative, was made possible thanks to the support of the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities through the “Data for Canadian Cities Project.”
“COVID-19 has underlined the importance of making decisions based on data and accurate facts,” said Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. “With the world as unpredictable as it is, this certification will allow us to harness standardized, globally comparable, and independently verified municipal data to address global challenges. By committing to evidence-based and data-driven decision-making, we reaffirm our commitment to making Charlottetown a more sustainable, smart, resilient and inclusive city for all residents.”

The Data for Canadian Cities Project support has permitted cities like Charlottetown to compare their data to other cities as well as establish important milestones for efficiency and growth. The data accumulated during the pilot project will permit City Council to efficiently measure and communicate tangible information about the results of its policy decisions, as well as assist in aligning the municipality with provincial, national, or even international areas of priority such as climate change, prosperity, and inclusivity.

“As the WCCD network grows across Canada – and specifically across Atlantic Canada – we are so pleased to be able to welcome Charlottetown into our global network of data driven cities. The commitment of Mayor Brown and Council to a more data-informed, sustainable, smart and inclusive future for Charlottetown’s residents is only underscored by this important, WCCD ISO Platinum Certification,” said Dr. McCarney, speaking at the Certification Ceremony. “As we continue this important work with the City, we look forward to working with you even more closely in applying the WCCD indicators to your strategic planning process, but also working with you to use this very high calibre and globally standardized data for a wide variety of applications - from economic development to climate change mitigation to infrastructure planning. I very much look forward to the time that we can meet in person, and to discuss all of these exciting opportunities.”

“All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure,” stated The Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Pilot Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we've been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that Charlottetown has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data, which will help the City plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities."

Charlottetown has now joined one hundred cities around the world in measuring and reporting data that gives an accurate portrait of a city’s quality of life. These indicators include factors such as air quality, access to education, energy consumption, waste management, active transportation, food security, and so on. With two years of verified data preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, WCCD certification will provide the City of Charlottetown with benchmarks to work towards through the recovery period ahead.
Having received this certification, the City can now begin an exciting chapter of this project, which is to find ways to put this data to use. This includes comparing Charlottetown with other cities across the globe on the ISO 37120 indicators, as well as incorporating the data into the Council decision-making process.

Tuesday 24 November 2020

The County of Brant Officially Awarded the World Council on City Data ISO 37120 Platinum Certification

   

 (Please visit the following link to view the original release on the County of Brant's website) 


November 24, 2020

Last evening, County of Brant Council was awarded the impressive World Council on City Data (WCCD) ISO 37120 Platinum Certification and joined the World Council on City Data Global Network. Representing the highest level of certification possible, the County of Brant receives this recognition as part of the Data for Canadian Cities Project, supported by the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities. The County of Brant was chosen as one of fifteen municipalities in Canada to participate in this federally funded program.

During the virtual Council meeting, the President and CEO of WCCD, Dr. Patricia McCarney and Vice President of Public Affairs and International Relations, James Patava were on hand to present this prestigious award to County of Brant Council.

This international recognition is awarded to municipalities that reach the highest standard in collecting, sharing, and using data to effectively make decisions. Reporting over 90 of the 104 indicators within the WCCD administered ISO 37120, the County of Brant is now among a select group of global municipalities reporting at this highest, platinum level. Within Canada, the WCCD network includes a group of thirty cities, of all sizes, from coast to coast to coast, and a further network of 100 cities globally.

Achieving this certification allows the County of Brant to build new tools and systems to enhance decision making, track progress and compare past performance, year by year, supported by the WCCD. As well, the County of Brant has joined a global network where we can compare, collaborate and learn by sharing performance, solutions and progress with other WCCD ISO certified cities worldwide.

For more information about the World Council on City Data (WCCD) and the certification, visit dataforcities.org.

 
Quotes:

“All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure. Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we’ve been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that the County of Brant has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data. This will help the city plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities.”

- The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

 "On behalf of the WCCD, it is a privilege to award the County of Brant with this highest, Platinum-level of WCCD ISO 37120 Certification. With a focus on its history and a thriving arts and culture scene, Brant is a shining example of a community that embraces its history and culture while equally embracing data to drive sustainable progress and measurable change in services delivered to your citizens and improving quality of life across your community. Congratulations to Mayor Bailey, the Council, and of course, the dedicated staff on this impressive accomplishment. We look forward to working with you for many years to come."

- Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of WCCD

 “The County of Brant is a great community and we are always working to improve. We are proud to join a network of thirty Canadian cities and one hundred cities around the world. The County of Brant is among a growing group of smaller communities in Canada and worldwide embracing this Certification. It is our belief that data to drive decision making is as critical to smaller communities as it is to larger cities such as Toronto, Boston or Dubai. Being part of the global city data collaborative allows us to globally compare our municipality to others around the world which enhances our ability to make more informed decisions impacting our community’s long-term social, economic and environmental health.” – Mayor David Bailey, County of Brant



Tuesday 27 October 2020

MAYOR BEVILACQUA: VAUGHAN AWARDED PLATINUM CERTIFICATION FROM WORLD COUNCIL ON CITY DATA

   

  (Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Vaughan's website) 


October 27, 2020

The following statement was issued by Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua after a special presentation during the Oct. 21 Council meeting:  

“The City of Vaughan has been awarded Platinum ISO 37120 certification for 2017 and 2018 from the World Council on City Data (WCCD). This is the highest level of certification from the WCCD, which is a global leader on standardized data that helps to create smart, sustainable, resilient, and prosperous cities. 
 
“The City of Vaughan has also become an early adopter of ISO 37122 – Indicators for Smart Cities. Once completed, Vaughan will be among the first cities globally certified under this new, demand-driven, smart city standard. 
 
“The World Council on City Data continues to champion the belief that globally comparable data is the essential starting point for innovation, global exchange and smart city development. The global organization hosts a network of innovative cities committed to improving services and the quality of life using open city-data. It also provides a consistent and comprehensive platform for standardized urban metrics. 
 
“In May 2015, the City of Vaughan became a WCCD Certified City. I was pleased to attend the 2017 WCCD Global Cities Summit in Dubai on behalf of the City of Vaughan. Collectively, we share a mandate to build smart, sustainable, inclusive and prosperous cities of the future. I remain committed to this mission.  
 
“The City of Vaughan is dynamic, vibrant, and one of Canada’s fastest-growing municipalities.  Major city-building initiatives, including the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and the VMC subway, will continue to benefit from this data sharing partnership. 
 
“In 2018, we established the Mayor’s Smart City Advisory Task Force to focus on creating enhanced opportunities by improving the way data is collected, understood and utilized to safeguard and elevate the quality of life for citizens as well as improve the delivery of public services people and businesses rely on each day.
 
“In November 2019, I was proud to lead the City of Vaughan’s delegation to Israel. Advancing a Smart City agenda was at the heart of our work in this important international market. We held discussions with representatives from Fuel Choices and Smart Mobility Initiative – a project led by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. Our delegation also met with researchers at Tel Aviv University, the country's largest post-secondary institution, to discuss the future of Smart City technology and its role in developing autonomous vehicles to improve urban transportation.
 
“As we look toward the future, we will remain unwavering in our efforts to build a safe, welcoming and engaged city where all people are given every opportunity possible to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives. From improving infrastructure and roads to recreation and healthcare, taking a Smart City approach to our work is fundamental to delivering efficient, reliable and innovative city-building.
 
“I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to our administration and specifically, to the Transformation and Strategy team for their leadership, passion and dedication to this initiative. This is a remarkable achievement of which you should be very proud.”

Tuesday 13 October 2020

Greater Sudbury Receives WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification

   

 (Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Greater Sudbury's website) 


October 13, 2020

The City of Greater Sudbury is pleased to receive Platinum Certification by the World Council on City Data (WCCD), the highest certification level offered by the Canada-based, global leader in standardized city data, creating smart, sustainable, resilient and prosperous cities. The certification positions the City to compare best practices with award winning cities, on a global level, to further strengthen existing municipal benchmarking efforts to measure the performance of the 58 lines of service offered to the community.  

“I am so proud that we have achieved such a high level of recognition for our work, which directly supports the commitment City Council has made to transparency and accountability through open government,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “In these uncertain times, having this data available to us will better position City Council to develop strategic and effective plans to support our residents and the future of our community. We will continue to support initiatives that reinforce and support our leadership in this field, both on a national and international level.”

The City joined the WCCD in January 2020, through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, supported by the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities. This three-year pilot project includes the collection of 104 globally standardised, comparable and independently verified indicators. Joining the WCCD Global Network aligns Greater Sudbury with almost 100 cities across the world, including 30 across Canada, all committed to leveraging city level data to improve service delivery and quality of life. Greater Sudbury received the certification by reporting over 90 of the 104 indicators, including all 46 core indicators, across 19 themes ranging from public safety to recreation. 

“Local governments are great at sharing information that helps share knowledge about how services can work better or cost less. Demands for our services aren’t going down, so to sustain affordable service levels we need to learn as much as we can from people that have already traveled the same road to effectively map out strong plans for the future,” said Ed Archer, City of Greater Sudbury, Chief Administrative Officer. “Our participation in the World Council on City Data produces important insights that help Council make decisions and provides assurance our services remain affordable, efficient and effective.”

The WCCD three-year pilot project, ISO 37120 Sustainable Development of Communities: Indicators for City Services and Quality of Life, uses a variety of standards including MBNCanada benchmarking data combined with data from the Provincial and Federal governments, including Statistics Canada, to develop a thorough profile of the City’s quality of life. 

"Greater Sudbury is such a vibrant regional hub for financial and business services, tourism, health care and research, education and government for Northeastern Ontario. Additionally, the City is an example throughout Canada and globally in its use of city data to support excellent service delivery, focusing on its residents' quality of life,” said Dr. Patricia McCarney, WCCD President and CEO. “In recognition of this commitment, it is my pleasure to congratulate Mayor Bigger, City Council, and the truly dedicated City Staff on their WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification. Through the three-year “Data for Canadian Cities Project” supported by the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities, the WCCD looks forward to offering you our ongoing support in your commitment towards becoming even more data-focused while prioritizing sustainability, resilience, inclusivity and prosperity for the residents of Greater Sudbury." 

“All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure. Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we’ve been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that,” said the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities. “I am delighted that Greater Sudbury has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data. This will help the city plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities.” 

The WCCD pilot project adds to the complement of benchmarking activities currently in place for Greater Sudbury, including participation in the Annual BMA Study and Municipal Benchmarking Network Canada (MBNCan). 

More information on the City’s benchmarking and performance measurement practices can be found at greatersudbury.ca/benchmarking. 

To learn more about the WCCD, visit dataforcities.org.

Tuesday 6 October 2020

City of Corner Brook Receives WCCD Platinum-Level Certification for City Data

   

 (Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Corner Brook's website)



October 6, 2020

Last night at 6:30 p.m., Corner Brook City Council was joined virtually by the President & CEO of the World Council on City Data, Dr. Patricia McCarney and MP for Long Range Mountains Gudie Hutchings, to receive the City’s WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification.

Joining a group of thirty Canadian cities, and almost 100 cities globally, the City of Corner Brook, its employees and its City Council are honoured to receive this important recognition from the WCCD, as part of the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure supported “Data for Canadian Cities Project.”

Receiving the Platinum Certification – which marks Corner Brook as a data-driven municipality – the City joins  the ranks of other data-driven municipalities across Canada and the Globe including London, Boston, and Dubai – alongside Canadian cities such as Kitchener, Toronto, Sudbury, Yellowknife and Edmonton. In addition to Corner Brook, two other Newfoundland and Labrador cities have received this Certification (St. John’s and Mount Pearl.)The data provided will be able to provide calculable benchmarks for Corner Brook to use in developing itself as a diverse hub for the Bay of Islands and Humber Valley region.

In the coming months and years, the City of Corner Brook forward to future collaboration with the WCCD, as the three-year “Data for Canadian Cities Project” supports the city in not only data collection, but in putting that data to use to the benefit of City residents.

Organized across nineteen city service and quality of life themes, the 104 indicators within WCCD’s ISO 37120 standard enable Canadian municipalities to compare their progress with counterparts across the country and worldwide. These themes include the environment, economy, education, governance, finance, transportation, recreation and health, amongst others. Data compiled through this Project supports municipalities in better measuring the impacts of local-level policies, while also informing and directing public and private sector investment in the city.

Quotes:

“Corner Brook is a vibrant regional hub for natural resource manufacturing, education and government – all underscored by City Council’s dedication to harnessing data to drive a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for the City’s residents. It is through this lens that I am especially pleased to award Corner Brook with WCCD’s ISO 37120 Platinum Certification through the federally-supported “Data for Canadian Cities Project.” Congratulations to Mayor Parsons, City Council and Staff for this significant achievement. On behalf of the WCCD, I look forward to working with you all to assist in your vision of creating a smarter, more sustainable, resilient, prosperous and inclusive future for your residents.”

  • WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney

“All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure. Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we’ve been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that the City of Corner Brook has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data. This will help the City plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities.”

  • The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“At the City of Corner Brook we value innovation. The City today is very different than the City 20-30 years ago—we’re constantly exploring new techniques and technologies to solve age old municipal problems. An important part of facing that challenge is understanding where you currently stand, and where you stand relative to other municipalities in our own country and around the world. This is where the World Council on City Data and the ISO 37120 Platinum Certification comes in. We’re very proud to say Corner Brook is a data-driven City.  I’d like to thank WCCD and our staff for working together to harvest this important data.” 

  • Mayor Jim Parsons, Corner Brook

Monday 5 October 2020

WCCD Welcomes City of Richmond Hill to the WCCD Network at the Highest, Platinum Level

   

(Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Richmond Hill's website)  

 

October 5, 2020

RICHMOND HILL – The City of Richmond Hill has earned the highest level of ISO 37120 certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) as part of the “Data for Canadian Cities Pilot Project”. Through the ISO 37120 certification, Richmond Hill joins a global network of 100 cities across more than 30 countries – including a network of 30 Canadian cities of all sizes.

The three-year project, funded by Canada’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities, facilitates the collection of standard indicators at the municipal level in year one. As the project continues into years two and three, Richmond Hill will be able to both measure progress over time and also to assess performance and learn from other cities locally and globally using an “apples-to-apples” comparison. WCCD will assist Richmond Hill and other participating municipalities to use the data to improve city services and quality of life for citizens.  

Richmond Hill was able to collect data to support over 90 out of the 104 indicators within ISO 37120, which then underwent independent verification.

Richmond Hill’s ISO 37120 platinum certification will be presented virtually by representatives of the WCCD to the Mayor and Council at the October 28 Council meeting.

Quotes

“This certification demonstrates our commitment to measuring our progress as a City and using that data to improve services and quality of life in Richmond Hill. As the project continues, we will continue to benefit from more robust comparators and also help others throughout the world by openly sharing our data. It’s one of the ways we are making sure our city continues to be a great place to live and a smart place to invest.”

-       Dave Barrow, Mayor

“The City of Richmond Hill is pleased to be part of the Data for Canadian Cities Pilot Project and show our commitment to tracking and understanding data to learn and improve. That’s what makes our city a place people will want to be for years to come.”

-       Mary-Anne Dempster, City Manager

"The City Council and Staff of Richmond Hill are well known for their commitment to providing exceptional public service to the entire community. Moreover, the City's work in leveraging data to drive a more prosperous, inclusive, sustainable, resilient and prosperous future has marked the City as an exceptional example both in Ontario and globally. On behalf of the WCCD, it is my pleasure to award the City of Richmond Hill with WCCD's ISO 37120 Platinum Certification through the federally-supported “Data for Canadian Cities Project.”  With your continued participation in this important, three-year Project, the WCCD looks forward to supporting the City in its commitment to exceptional service delivery. Congratulations to Mayor Barrow, City Council and all of the dedicated staff on this significant achievement." 

-       WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney

"All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure. Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we've been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that the City of Richmond Hill has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data. This will help the City plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities."

-       The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

Quick Facts

  • The World Council on City Data (WCCD) was founded in 2014 and exists to help communities of all sizes – in Canada and across the globe – to embrace standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data to become more sustainable, resilient, prosperous inclusive and smart.
  • ISO 37120 sustainable Cities and communities – Indicators for city services and quality of life is an internationally-recognized certification and uses 104 standardized indicators, across 19 themes, to measure a city's social, economic and environmental performance. To achieve platinum certification, Richmond Hill was required to report on 90 of these indicators.

Media Contact

Libbi Hood, Communications Advisor

416-522-2816, libbi.hood@richmondhill.ca  

Wednesday 30 September 2020

St. John’s Receives Platinum Certification from WCCD

   

 (Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of St. John's website) 

September 30, 2020


The City of St. John's has received World Council on City Data (WCCD) ISO 37120 Platinum Certification. This international recognition is awarded to cities that reach the highest standard in collecting, sharing, and using data to effectively make decisions. Reporting over 90 of the 104 indicators within WCCD's ISO 37120 standard, the City of St. John’s is among a select group of global cities reporting at the highest platinum level.
Participation in this national initiative is supported by the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities through the WCCD’s ‘Data for Canadian Cities Project’. This Project effectively doubles the number of Canadian cities in the WCCD network to thirty – allowing for “apples to apples” comparisons across the country, and globally. This project helps the participating cities become certified for three years under ISO 37120, the world’s first international standard for city data. As the project continues in years two and three, a significant focus will be placed on assisting the participating municipalities in using the data to improve city services and quality of life for citizens.

"All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure,” said The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we've been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that the City of St. John's has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data. This will help the City plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities."
"The City of St. John's has a well-deserved reputation for balancing its strong sense of heritage with the needs of a modern urban population,” said WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney. “The City's participation in the Data for Canadian Cities Project is a perfect demonstration of this commitment. In harnessing standardized, globally comparable and independently verified city data, Mayor Breen and the City Council are underlining their commitment to evidence-based, data-driven decision making to create a more sustainable, smart, resilient, prosperous and inclusive future for city residents. On behalf of the WCCD, it is my pleasure to congratulate Mayor Breen, City Council and the truly dedicated City Staff on their WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification."
St. John’s joins one hundred cities around the world in measuring indicators like air quality, electricity use, how close people are to public services, and population density. This data will be used to assess how cities are tackling challenges like climate change and identify the solutions that are working well. 
“Participating in this initiative means that the City of St. John’s will have an opportunity to share our successes with other municipalities and learn from best practices around the world,” said Mayor Danny Breen. “We are committed to making strong and effective decisions, based on evidence, that ensure our city is sustainable, now and into the future.”
Data collected in 2018 is now available on the City’s website. Staff have begun compiling data for the 2019 report. For more information about the World Council on City Data (WCCD) and the certification, visit dataforcities.org

About the WCCD
The World Council on City Data (WCCD) was founded in 2014 and exists to help communities of all sizes - in Canada and across the globe - to embrace standardized, independently verified, and globally comparable city data to become more sustainable, resilient, prosperous inclusive and smart. Since its founding, the WCCD has been working with 100 cities worldwide and has helped these cities to adopt ISO 37120, the first international standard for city data. The WCCD and ISO 37120 are a truly “Made in Canada” initiative – with their ultimate creation primarily spearheaded by Canadian urban thinkers and city leaders. The standard includes 104 indicators across 19 themes and standardizes data to measure progress on a set of city services and quality of life. ISO 37120 provides cities with quantitative, globally comparable and independently verified local-level data enabling any city, of any size, to measure and compare its social, economic, and environmental progress internally year over year, and also in relation to other peer cities locally and globally. The WCCD Global Network includes one hundred cities across more than thirty countries.  The WCCD is now implementing three international standards referred to as the ISO 37120 Series – that includes ISO 37120 as the base document and two new standards: ISO 37122 – Indicators for Smart Cities and ISO 37123 – Indicators for Resilient Cities. 
About the ISO 37120 standard
The WCCD administered ISO 37120 is a globally standardized data set that measures quality of life and delivery of municipal services, and its creation was primarily spearheaded by Canadian urban leaders. The data within ISO 37120 enables Canadian municipalities to compare their progress with their counterparts across the country and around the world, according to nineteen city service and quality of life thematic areas. These themes include the environment, economy, education, governance, finance, transportation, recreation, and health, amongst others. Data compiled through this standard supports municipalities to better plan and implement infrastructure investments and measure the impacts of those investments on economic prosperity and the quality of life of their residents.

Tuesday 22 September 2020

Mount Pearl Goes Platinum and Joins Global Network of Data-Driven Cities

   

( Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Mount Pearl's website)

September 22, 2020

Mount Pearl, NL – Tonight, the City of Mount Pearl received its platinum certification under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 37120: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Indicators for city services and quality of life. This international recognition is awarded to cities that reach the highest standard in collecting, sharing, and using data to effectively make decisions. The certification was presented by the World Council on City Data (WCCD) as part of the "Data for Canadian Cities Project", supported by the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities. With this achievement, Mount Pearl now joins WCCD’s global network of 100 cities in over 35 countries. The City is being awarded platinum- level certification for reporting over 90 of the 104 indicators.

“This is another example of our City using innovation and collaboration to support our focus on continuous learning and growth,” said Deputy Mayor Jim Locke. “We are committed to ensuring Mount Pearl is leading the way in data-driven decision making that will improve our service delivery and enhance the quality of life for our citizens. We are now even more equipped to create a smarter, more sustainable, resilient, prosperous and inclusive community.”


"With a strong history of supporting business, and investing in its citizens, it is a pleasure to be able to welcome the City of Mount Pearl to the WCCD Canadian and Global network, as an ISO 37120 Platinum Certified City," said WCCD President & CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney. "The City's dedication to harnessing standardized, comparable and independently verified city data to drive change for citizens highlights Mount Pearl as a leading urban centre. With the positive benefits of this ISO Platinum certification ranging from economic development insights to improving service delivery and increasing sustainability, resilience and prosperity for all residents – the WCCD views Mount Pearl as an extraordinary partner. Congratulations to council and all of the staff on this tremendous accomplishment."

WCCD is working with 15 municipalities across Canada through the Data for Canadian Cities Project. This Project effectively doubles the number of Canadian cities in the WCCD network to thirty – allowing for “apples to apples” comparisons across the country, and globlly. The project will help the participating cities become certified for three years under ISO 37120, the world’s first international standard for city data. As the project continues into years two and three, a significant focus will be placed on assisting the participating municipalities in using the data to improve city services and quality of life for citizens.


 "All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Catherine McKenna. “Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we've been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that Mount Pearl has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data, this will help the City plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities."


ABOUT WORLD COUNCIL ON CITY DATA

The World Council on City Data (WCCD) was founded in 2014 and exists to help communities of all sizes - in Canada and across the globe - to embrace standardized, independently verified, and globally comparable city data to become more sustainable, resilient, prosperous inclusive and smart. Since its founding, the WCCD has been working with 100 cities worldwide and has helped these cities to adopt ISO 37120, the first international standard for city data. The WCCD and ISO 37120 are a truly “Made in

Canada” initiative – with their ultimate creation primarily spearheaded by Canadian urban thinkers and city leaders. The standard includes 104 indicators across 19 themes and standardizes data to measure progress on city services and quality of life. ISO 37120 provides cities with quantitative, globally comparable and independently verified local-level data enabling any city, of any size, to measure and compare its social, economic, and environmental progress internally year over year, and also in relation to other peer cities locally and globally. The WCCD Global Network includes one hundred cities across more than thirty countries. The WCCD is now implementing three international standards referred to as the ISO 37120 Series – that includes ISO 37120 as the base document and two new new standards: ISO 37122 – Indicators for Smart Cities and ISO 37123 – Indicators for Resilient Cities.


ABOUT ISO 37120

Administered by the World Council on City Data, ISO 37120 is a globally standardized data set that measures quality of life and delivery of municipal services. This data enables Canadian municipalities to compare their progress with their counterparts across the country and around the world, according to nineteen city service and quality of life thematic areas. These themes include the environment, economy, education, governance, finance, transportation, recreation, and health, amongst others. Data compiled through this project supports municipalities to better plan and implement infrastructure investments and measure the impacts of those investments on economic prosperity and the quality of life of their residents. This ISO standardized and third party verified data also supports cities in advancing economic development and investment, in monitoring progress on local and global climate agendas, and in tracking a city’s progress on sustainable development goals including the United Nation’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

City of Edmonton Receives WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification

   

(Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Edmonton's website) 




September 21, 2020

Today, the World Council on City Data (WCCD) recognized the City for achieving ISO 37120 Platinum certification as part of the Government of Canada supported Data for Canadian Cities Project. This is the highest level of certification that a city can achieve and reflects the calibre of the data reported in accordance with ISO 37120: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Indicators for City Services, the first international standard for city data. This global first was largely created through the input of Canadian urban leaders and practitioners. 
 
"Transparency and accountability maintain and strengthen our democracy. This is why we're extremely pleased to have achieved Platinum certification from the WCCD for the Data for Canadian Cities Project,” said Mayor Don Iveson. “Edmonton has long been a leader in data-driven decision-making to provide better City services and improve quality of life for Edmontonians. I’d like to thank Minister McKenna and the WCCD for their leadership in this project and encourage my colleagues in other Canadian municipalities to participate in this important work.”
 
"We are so pleased to welcome Edmonton into the WCCD global network of 100 data-driven cities across more than 35 countries” stated the WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney. “Edmonton is already recognized, here in Canada and on the global stage, as a city truly dedicated to building high calibre data for performance management, benchmarking and moreover, for putting that data to use as a core element in their strategic planning framework. Being awarded WCCD ISO Platinum Certification today further underscores the commitment of Mayor Iveson and Edmonton’s leaders on leveraging globally standardized, comparable, and independently verified city data, that will drive a more prosperous, sustainable, resilient and inclusive future for the City’s residents."

"All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure. Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we've been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that,” stated The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “I am delighted that Edmonton has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data. This will help the City plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities." 

Data for participating Canadian cities will be publicly available in early 2021 on the WCCD website, following the relaunch of the WCCD Visualization Portal. Data compiled through this project supports municipalities to better plan and implement infrastructure investments and measure the impacts of those investments on economic prosperity and the quality of life of their residents.
 
The WCCD administered ISO 37120 is a globally standardized data set that measures quality of life and delivery of municipal services. As part of a funded agreement with the Government of Canada, the WCCD is working with fifteen municipalities across Canada to help them become certified under ISO 37120, doubling the number of WCCD ISO Certified Canadian municipalities to thirty. This three-year project assists the participating cities in obtaining WCCD’s ISO 37120 Certification, as well as leveraging the data to drive insights, build capacity, and monitor trends. 


For more information:
www.dataforcities.org

Media contact:  
Becky Machnee
Communications Advisor
Communications and Engagement
780-944-0420

James Patava
VP of Public Affairs & International Relations
World Council on City Data (WCCD)
1-416-966-2368

Tuesday 15 September 2020

City of Selkirk Receives WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification

   

(Please visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Selkirk's website) 


Selkirk goes platinum and joins elite list of global cities

Boston, London, Amsterdam, Toronto, Dubai…and Selkirk. This small city in Manitoba shares the company of an elite and growing collection of global cities to embrace standardized city data to inform better decision-making and to drive public and private investment in cities of all sizes and locations.

Selkirk is also the first and currently the only community in Manitoba to have embraced and adopted this transformative and innovative process.

Praise from the Federal level
Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, said in partnership with the World Council on City Data (WCCD) and through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, the federal government has been helping municipal leaders meet global data standards, and to put this data to use.

“All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure,” McKenna said.

“I am delighted that Selkirk has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data, this will help the city plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities.” 

Data to make our city, country, and world better
As part of a funded agreement with the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities, the World Council on City Data is working with fifteen municipalities across Canada through the Data for Canadian Cities Project. This Project will help the fifteen cities become certified for three years under ISO 37120, the world’s first international standard for city data.

As the project continues into years two and three, a significant focus will be placed on assisting the participating municipalities in using the data to improve city services and quality of life for citizens.

Yielding the fruit from the trees we planted
Duane Nicol, Selkirk’s Chief Administrative Officer said that achieving the certification is a continuation of the work they have been doing in recent years to build new tools and systems to enhance the city’s decision making, such as their award winning capital asset management program.

“This initiative is almost the equivalent of a “community FitBit.” It provides us with the ability to track progress and compare ourselves to our own past performance, year-by-year or even decade-by-decade,” said Nicol.

“It also allows us to compare, collaborate and learn by sharing performance, solutions and progress with other WCCD ISO certified cities worldwide.  This will enhance Selkirk’s ability to make more informed decisions impacting our community’s long-term social, economic and environmental health.”

Using data to make smart decisions
Mayor Larry Johannson says this is yet another example of how Selkirk is using innovation and leading practices to set itself apart.

“We know as citizens that Selkirk is a great place to live, work and play. With this data we can prove it and we can continue our work to make Selkirk even stronger. We’ve been recognized as provincial and national leaders in terms of asset management and on climate change. Now we join an elite group of global leaders who are working to make cities more sustainable and liveable” said Johannson.

Universally recognized
ISO as a brand represents a standard of excellence recognized by the private and public sectors worldwide.

“Adopting the ISO standard ensures the information Selkirk provides to prospective investors, government agencies and other parties will contribute to better informed decision making,” said the city’s Director of Sustainable Economic Development Tim Feduniw.

“Accurate, credible and consistent information is critical to attracting and shaping positive community economic growth”

For the future
Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of the WCCD, welcomed the City of Selkirk to the WCCD global network of data-driven cities.

“I look forward to working with Selkirk in harnessing this data, and putting it to use,” said McCarney.

 “With applications from economic development, to targeted infrastructure investment, to internal and external benchmarking, the city’s platinum certification is a testament to the leadership of Mayor Larry Johannson and his entire team in committing to high calibre, local-level data to drive a more prosperous, sustainable, resilient and inclusive future for Selkirk.”

To achieve the WCCD ISO 37120 platinum certification, the city had to report 90 of a potential 104 indicators, broken down into 19 categories that ranged from economy to energy, environment to innovation and urban planning to water and sanitation. In obtaining WCCD’s ISO 37120 Platinum Certification, Selkirk joins 100 cities worldwide, across more than 35 countries.

Monday 14 September 2020

Waterloo achieves platinum ISO standard, joins global network of cities in performance measurement

   


(Visit the following link to view the original release on the City of Waterloo's website)


September 14, 2020

The City of Waterloo has achieved the highest certification – platinum – from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) for ISO 37120: Sustainable cities and communities – Indicators for city services and quality of life. 

This international standard includes 104 indicators to measure and compare inclusive, sustainable, economically attractive and prosperous cities globally. The WCCD’s platinum certification level refers to Waterloo reporting on over 90 of the possible 104 indicators, committing to the most thorough comparison of performance to a global network of cities. 

“Waterloo is a great city that is always improving. Now with our ISO certification, we can compare Waterloo to 100 other cities around the world. They will learn from us, and we’ll learn from them to build a better quality of life for all our citizens. I’m proud of our staff for achieving platinum; it means we’re measuring and trying to improve on as many things as possible for our community,” said Mayor Dave Jaworsky.

The certification will be presented virtually to Council on September 21 by the WCCD as part of the "Data for Canadian Cities Project", supported by the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities. As part of a funded agreement with the Government of Canada, the WCCD worked with 15 municipalities, including Waterloo and Kitchener, to help them become certified. With this achievement, Waterloo joins WCCD’s Canadian network of 30 cities, which includes the City of Cambridge, and a global network of 100 cities in over 30 countries. As the project moves into years two and three, the focus will shift to how participating municipalities can use the data available to advance, while sharing their unique expertise to help other participants improve services and quality of life.

"The City of Waterloo has a well-deserved reputation as a centre of innovation across Canada and globally. Through this WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification, the WCCD is pleased to recognize Waterloo's commitment to harnessing data to drive sustainable economic development and citizen-focused, evidence-based decision making for quality of life advancements," stated WCCD President & CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney. "It is a pleasure to be able to congratulate Mayor Jaworsky, council members and the incredibly dedicated staff on this truly auspicious achievement. On behalf of the WCCD, I look forward to working with you all as you continue to build a smarter, more resilient, sustainable, prosperous and inclusive future." 

"All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure,” said the federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Catherine McKenna. “Meeting global data standards is critical. Through the Data for Canadian Cities Project, in partnership with the World Council on City Data, we've been helping municipal leaders in a number of communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that Waterloo has obtained the ISO standard for municipal data, this will help the City plan projects with quality data and will help guide evidence-based decision-making. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities." 

Having achieved this certification, the city will take the next few months to examine the data. As part of the strategic plan update later this year, staff will update Council and the community on how the city compares against others on the ISO 37120 indicators, and how this will help measure our performance going forward.

Media contact
Cari Howard
Manager, Corporate Communications
cari.howard@waterloo.ca