Monday, 14 September 2020

City of Kitchener Receives WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification

   



(Visit the following link to view this release on the City of Kitchener's Website) 

City of Kitchener joins world-class cities with WCCD platinum-level ISO data certification.

Monday, September 14, 2020

Earlier today, the City of Kitchener joined the World Council on City Data (WCCD) Global Network of over 100 cities across 35 countries to officially receive the ISO 37120 Platinum-level 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 the WCCD administered ISO 37120 – the first international standard for city data – the City of Kitchener is now among a select group of global cities reporting at this highest, platinum level. Kitchener’s participation in this transformative, Canada-wide initiative was supported by the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities, through the WCCD’s “Data for Canadian Cities Project.”

Kitchener city council was joined by Mr. Andy Fillmore, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and WCCD President and CEO Dr. Patricia McCarney to recognize Kitchener’s certification by the WCCD as part of an initiative to collect, share, and use data to inform City decision making. Access to the WCCD Global Network allows the City to share local experiences but also understand how cities around the world are tackling similar issues.

Kitchener 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. 

"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 communities across Canada do just that. I am delighted that Kitchener 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."

"I am so pleased to congratulate the City of Kitchener on your WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification and to welcome the City into the WCCD Global Network, alongside 100 cities across over 35 countries," stated Dr. McCarney. "The City of Kitchener is well known for its nimble and inventive approach to addressing local challenges and opportunities. Under the leadership of Mayor Vrbanovic, Kitchener is also a global example of how localizing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals can contribute to a more sustainable planet for all of us. Now armed with ISO 37120 data, I do not doubt that the City, under the Mayor's far-sighted leadership, will continue to create a more sustainable, prosperous, resilient, inclusive, and smart city for all Kitchener's residents, while contributing to a critical global dialogue."

Participating in this global dialogue means Kitchener will benefit from the expertise of leading global experts working with the project. Other cities can also access the data provided by Kitchener and other cities to identify the practices and policies that have the biggest impact. It will take several months to generate these recommendations, but Kitchener has already been identified as a city for others to emulate.

“Cities around the world are facing similar challenges,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “We’re always eager to learn from the success stories of other cities, and participation with the World Council on City Data means that the top minds in disciplines like economics, land use planning, and sustainability will work with the data we provide and offer their insight. The work we’ve done to operationalize our climate goals throughout City services is something other cities will learn from, and I’m excited to learn as much in return.”

The City of Kitchener received its certification alongside the City of Waterloo, in its participation in the Data for Canadian Cities Project., joining the City of Cambridge which obtained WCCD ISO certification in 2016, in its participation in the Data for Canadian Cities Project. Staff had already begun compiling data about many of the WCCD’s indicators during their work to develop transparent metrics for success towards the goals of the City’s strategic plan. The City’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan mapped community priorities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, many of which align with the WCCD’s indicators.


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


For more information:

Shawn Falcao

Manager, Corporate Communications and Marketing

shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca  


James Patava

VP of Public Affairs & International Relations

World Council on City Data (WCCD)

James.Patava@globalcities.ca


About the WCCD

Since 2014, the WCCD – a Toronto-based not-for-profit organization – has been working with cities globally to embrace standardized city data to inform better decision-making and to drive public and private investment in cities of all sizes. 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, the first international standard for city data. This three-year project assists the participating cities in obtaining WCCD’s ISO 37120 Certification. As the Project continues into Year 2 and 3, a significant focus is being placed on assisting the participating municipalities in using the data to improve city services and quality of life for citizens.


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 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.

Friday, 28 August 2020

City of Guadalupe, Mexico receives WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification in Virtual Presentation

   

For Immediate Release

August 28th, 2020

Joining Mayor Cristina Diaz, in a virtual certification ceremony, the WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney, officially presented the City of Guadalupe with WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification. As the WCCD network of data-driven Mexican cities continues to grow, Guadalupe becomes the seventh City in Mexico to become ISO 37120 certified. Reporting over 90 of the 104 indicators within ISO 37120, Guadalupe's Platinum certification is the highest level of WCCD ISO certification.

Speaking today, Dr. McCarney highlighted the commitment of both Mayor Diaz and the City of Guadalupe in harnessing WCCD ISO 37120 to drive a more sustainable, smart, resilient, prosperous and inclusive future for the City.

"It is truly a pleasure for me to join you today. As the newest member of the growing WCCD Network in Mexico, Guadalupe's commitment to standardized city data is an example to other Mexican cities, and cities across the globe, as to the power of data in driving evidence-based decision making, while improving city services and quality of life," stated Dr. McCarney from Toronto. "This occasion is also an opportunity to personally extend my congratulations to Mayor Diaz, who has been a long-standing supporter of the WCCD. Mayor Diaz, I look forward to the possibility of visiting your beautiful city soon and the WCCD is standing by to support you in any way that we can, as we continue to grow the WCCD network across Nuevo Leon and Mexico."

Guadalupe, which lies adjacent to the City of Monterrey, is the second-largest city in the State of Nuevo Leon, with a population of 720,743. Mayor Cristina Diaz has been a long-term supporter of the WCCD, and was instrumental in welcoming some of the first members of the WCCD network of cities in Mexico in 2014. (Read more: Presenta Cristina Diaz proyecto de certificación de ciudades mexicanas).

 

For more information, please contact:

James Patava

James.patava@globalcities.ca

www.dataforcities.org   

Tuesday, 25 August 2020

WCCD welcomes the City of Yellowknife to the WCCD Global Network as part of the Data for Canadian Cities Project

   

August 24th, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

As part of the Government of Canada supported, "Data for Canadian Cities Project," today the WCCD officially welcomes the City of Yellowknife as one of the 15 Canadian cities receiving WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum certification under this Project.  

The three-year project provides assistance to the participating cities in obtaining WCCD’s ISO 37120 Certification. As the Project continues into Year 2 and 3, a significant focus is being placed on assisting the participating municipalities in using the data to improve city services and quality of life for citizens. 

In the first of 15 planned virtual certification ceremonies across the country, the WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney, will present Yellowknife's WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum certification during a meeting of the Yellowknife City Council. 

According to Dr. McCarney"The WCCD is a Made in Canada initiative, and through the support of the Government of Canada, we are so pleased to welcome the City of Yellowknife into our Canadian and Global Network. As a next step, I look forward to working with Yellowknife in harnessing this data and putting it to use. 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 Alty and her entire team in committing to high calibre, local-level data to drive a more prosperous, sustainable, resilient and inclusive future for the City."  

Underscoring her commitment, and that of Yellowknife's City Council to the Project, Mayor Rebecca Alty underlined her commitment to evidence-based decision making, while furthering the City's ability to monitor progress: "Participating in the Data for Canadian Cities Project, and receiving WCCD ISO 37120 Platinum Certification from the WCCD, will drive better service delivery and quality of life for our citizens, across a number of priority areas, including the environment, economy, and health...Annual reporting and analysis will enhance Council's evidence-based decision-making and further our data-driven progress monitoring. In the context of COVID-19, this data will help us to understand the scope and impacts of this pandemic and inform our social, cultural and economic recovery strategies."

The Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, also sent her congratulations on this important achievement for the City, while highlighting the importance of and need for data across the country. “All communities, large and small, need good data to plan and build modern public infrastructure. Meeting global data standards is critical. Through this initiative, 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 Yellowknife 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 full release from the City of Yellowknife is available at the following link. 

For more information, please contact: 

James Patava

WCCD

james.patava@globalcities.ca

Tuesday, 3 March 2020

WCCD Joins Gathering Hosted by Canadian Ambassador Grossman & High Commissioner Stadelbauer Highlighting Canadian Innovation at the UN WUF

   
From L to R:  High Commissioner to Kenya and Canada’s Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, Lisa Stadelbauer; WCCD President & CEO, Patricia McCarney; WCCD Vice President James Patava &  Canada’s Ambassador to the UAE, Marcy Grossman

As a “Made in Canada” initiative, the WCCD leadership attended a reception in Abu Dhabi hosted by Canada’s Ambassador to the UAE, Marcy Grossman, and High Commissioner to Kenya and Canada’s Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, Lisa Stadelbauer. Joined by other Canadian innovators in the urban space, Dr. McCarney and Mr. Patava had the opportunity to share the WCCD’s experiences in Canada and globally with ex-pats, government representatives, and other Canadians present at the WUF. Of particular interest at the event was the WCCD’s “Data for Canadian Cities” project which is being framed as a model for the growth of the WCCD network of cities in countries across the world.

WCCD’s CEO meets with the City of Moscow – the first city pursuing ISO 327120 in Russia, and first in Europe pursuing ISO 37122 certification

   
The WCCD President and CEO & Maxim Savitsky, Head of International Relations, for the City of Moscow’s Department of Information Technology - at the UN World Urban Forum, in Abu Dhabi
Following Moscow’s commitment to jointly pursuing both ISO 37120 & ISO 37122 certification – a first in Europe – the WCCD CEO met with Maxim Savitsky, Head of International Relations, for the City of Moscow’s Department of Information Technology. With ambitions towards becoming the first city in Europe to be jointly certified under both standards, Dr. McCarney and Mr. Savitsky also discussed a broader rollout of the ISO 37120 Series of Standards across Russia. Russia is to become the thirty-ninth country globally with WCCD ISO-certified cities.

Nigerian Cities Commit to Joining the WCCD Global Network to Create More Resilient & Sustainable Cities Across The Country

   

From L to R: Mr. Ahmad A.S, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja; the Hon. Dr. Abdul Husaini, Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Lands and Housing; Dr. Patricia McCarney, the WCCD President and CEO; Engr. Sagir Aliyu, General Manager of Bauchi State Urban Development Board and the Hon. Prof. Adamu Ahmed, Commissioner for Lands and Survey (Bauchi State)


While attending the UN World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi, delegates from seven Nigerian cities met with the WCCD President and CEO and Vice President of WCCD. The discussion focused on improving the process and quality of urban data for informed decision making across all levels of government in Nigeria (local, state and national) and to drive their success in implementing the SDGs throughout Nigeria. 

Focussing on SDG action in Nigeria, and the lack of high-calibre data for city planning and urban management, the group was united in its shared goal of harnessing the WCCD ISO 37120 Series to help Nigerian cities to become more sustainable, smart, and resilient. As a first step, the WCCD President and CEO and the Honourable Prof. Adamu Ahmed, Commissioner for Lands and Survey (Bauchi State) signed a Certification Agreement, welcoming the City of Bauchi as the second Nigerian city to join the WCCD global network of cities across 39 countries. Long-time WCCD partner, Dr. Abdul Husaini (Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Lands and Housing), who was responsible for Minna to become the first city in Nigeria to achieve ISO 37120 certification, convened the group and is positioned to facilitate the expansion of the WCCD’s network across Nigeria.

The WCCD President and CEO & the Hon. Prof. Adamu Ahmed sign the WCCD Certification Agreement for Bauchi City

WCCD Focuses on City Resilience at UN World Urban Forum, Alongside UN & Global Partners

   

From L to R: WCCD President & CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney &Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori
Following the launch of ISO 37123 (Indicators for Resilient Cities) in late 2019, and its increasing role in equipping cities with high calibre and standardized city data to mitigate city shocks and stresses, the WCCD leadership participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by UNDRR, providing input towards the launch of UNDRR’s global “Making Cities Resilient 2030” initiative.  MCR2030 is a new chapter of the Making Cities Resilient Campaign, spearheaded by UNDRR – the UN entity responsible for disaster risk reduction. As a core mandate of the WCCD, this collective commitment to creating more resilient cities was referenced in the Declared Actions of the 10th World Urban Forum, available at the following link. MCR2030 is led by Ms. Mami Mizutori, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, who will lead the initiative into the UN’s upcoming “Decade of Action.” For more information on WCCD’s new ISO 37123 standard, and how your city can participate in adopting this ISO standard and becoming certified, feel free to contact the WCCD at info@dataforcities.org.