The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), headquartered in New York City, is a worldwide organization that is renowned for its efforts in recognizing Intelligent Community excellence through its research, publications, annual awards programs, workshops, conferences, site visits, and other support. Today, there are over 200 Intelligent Communities around the world, and growing annually, with Intelligent Community members on every continent. aimed at working together to share information and develop more Intelligent Communities throughout the world. As ICF’s unique methodology is sought after around the world, there is an opportunity for each country to focus its ICF-related efforts within its region. In Canada, we currently have 50 cities, towns and regions recognized officially as Intelligent Communities by ICF. ICF Canada is ICF’s official national non-profit organization that supports ICF’s goals and programs in Canada. To learn more or to apply for its awards, secure an Analyst’s Report, develop an Accelerator, become a member or for any other support, contact Matt Owen at mowen@intelligentcommunity.org .

 

The first “smart city” conference of its kind took place in Toronto as “Smart95” in 1995. Twenty years later, the anniversary event of the first smart city conference took place again in Toronto, called the ICF Summit 2015. The purpose of ICF Summit 2015 was to leverage and position Smart Cities and Intelligent Communities worldwide through ICF’s Awards program and to position Canada as among the most successful Smart Cities and Intelligent Communities.  Canada is an excellent location in which to beta test new ideas associated with exploring the benefits and opportunities among Smart21 cities and Intelligent Communities as well as offer support for communities of any size and location who wish to become Intelligent Communities.

ICF Canada is the first global representative office of its kind outside of ICF’s global headquarters. The purpose of ICF Canada is to promote the development of the Intelligent Community movement within Canada and, by example, promote the goals of creating the best cities and educated workforce possible around the world through the criteria established by ICF. As a result, ICF Canada is positioned to respond to requests by Canadian communities of all sizes across the nation about the criteria, awards, conferences, workshops and any other activities of ICF and ICFF as well as work with its partners, ICF Institutes and intermediaries in Canada and around the world in their effort to help create the best communities possible for its citizens and for the country as a whole.

As a direct link to creating better cities, the goal is to attract and retain talent as well as attract and retain investment, especially Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). As such, ICF Canada is an educator, an advocate as well as an agent to assist its ICF Canada members to position its Smart City and Intelligent Communities as locations of choice and for global participants to benefit from the brand of being recognized as a Smart21 community or as an Intelligent Community.