Vancouver named a top `smart' city

Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2007

VANCOUVER - Vancouver isn't just another pretty face.

In fact the city has been short listed as one of the world's smartest cities by a New York-based think-tank that focuses on economic development in the broadband economy.

The Intelligent Community Forum lauds the city's highly-skilled workforce, its burgeoning technology sector and broadband initiatives ranging from e-government in Victoria to wireless connectivity in the city.

Vancouver made the first cut in the global competition, being named among the top 21 smartest cities of the world. In January it finds out if it has made the short list of the seven top cities with the final winner for 2008 to be announced in May in New York.

"How smart are we? That's a good question, we'll find out soon," said Colin Stein manager, communications and operations for the Vancouver Economic Development Commission.

Waterloo, Ont., won the top honours for 2007 and this year Fredericton and Edmonton join Vancouver among the Canadian cities to be short listed.

"We are as smart as Waterloo," said Stein.

The 21 cities cover the globe, from Gold Coast City, Australia, to Dundee, Scotland, Hyderabad, India, to Doha (Ad-Dawhah), Qatar and Dublin, Ohio.

"There are some really fascinating stories," said Stein. "I think we have the best stories, we'll see if we can rise to the top. To make it to the next step, that's our goal."

IMO there should be some kind of segregation of contestants by size. It is a silly excersise to compare a small college town to a world city with millions of people.

Why is BC then the "most scammed" province when it comes to false investments/pyramid schemes, etc?

lots of old people

That's good news for our city...I guess. While many strive to change Vancouver to be something other than the 'dumb blonde' city and known just for our natural beauty, I don't think we're really that smart. All you have to do is go down to Robson St. or to a Canucks game. Anywho, while great, why do we always yearn to be in these competition - it's always against unknown cities, I'd be really proud if we could do well in rankings that include huge cities.

Vancouver should help the RCMP be smart in using their taser guns first before calling it a smart city.

Vancouver should help the RCMP be smart in using their taser guns first before calling it a smart city.

one innocent man dies as a result of police misuse in tasering when 100,000 innocent Americans die as victims of drunk drivers.




Vancouver: brains as well as beauty

Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Vancouver isn't just another pretty face.

In fact, the city has made the first cut as one of the world's smartest cities, in a selection by a New York-based think tank that focuses on economic development in the broadband economy.

The Intelligent Community Forum lauds the city's highly skilled workforce, its burgeoning technology sector, and broadband initiatives ranging from e-government to wireless connectivity.

Vancouver was named among the top 21 smartest cities of the world. In January it finds out if it has made the short list of the seven top cities, with the final winner for 2008 to be announced in May in New York.

"How smart are we? That's a good question, we'll find out soon," said Colin Stein, manager of communications and operations for the Vancouver Economic Development Commission.

Waterloo, Ont., won the top honours for 2007, and this year Fredericton and Edmonton join Vancouver among the Canadian cities eligible for the short list.

"We are as smart as Waterloo," Stein said.

The 21 cities cover the globe, from Gold Coast City, Australia, to Dundee Scotland, Hyderabad, India, to Doha (Ad-Dawhah), Qatar and Dublin, Ohio.

"There are some really fascinating stories," Stein said.

"I think we have the best stories, we'll see if we can rise to the top.

"To make it to the next step, that's our goal."

Stein said some of the limitations Vancouver must work within have actually contributed to the recognition it is receiving for innovative ways in which it is coping.

"It may seem we are behind the eight ball," he said, referring to the natural boundaries that limit Vancouver's growth.

But in coping with hemmed-in space, Stein said, "you make sure you incorporate multi-use facilities, weaving together live, work and play space to make the most of what you have.

"It is being able to hold it up to the global community and say, 'Look at what we can do and look at what you can do.'"

Stein said with this year's theme around sustainability, such programs as Vancouver's eco-density earn recognition for the city.

"This year's theme was around sustainability and the discussion on how it affects our community, with self-sustaining programs, smart growth and green development. A lot of it seemed to ring quite true with what the city of Vancouver is doing."

gshaw@png.canwest.com

I can't wait for the olympics when people will see that vancouver is Not the perfect paradise that everone says it is... It rains constantly , and although people may be smart , they can also be just as ignorant as the average american.

^^Why all the hate for Vancouver? It's just a city by the sea, minding its own buisiness. Besides, ignorance is bliss and rain is perfection.

I can't wait for the olympics when people will see that vancouver is Not the perfect paradise that everone says it is... It rains constantly , and although people may be smart , they can also be just as ignorant as the average american.

WTF IGORANT AS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN? Look I can understand if u say Vancouver isn't a perfect paradise: it isn't and we do have a fair share or problems: Downtown Eastside. But Vancouverites aren't ignorant (well at least most of them aren't). OMG... IGNORANT AS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN... YOU ARE ONE OF THEM FOR SURE

look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend anybody , Vancouver is a GREAT place don't get me worng .but i just think that all the "bc: the greatest place of earth" stuff is a little bit excessive.

Trust me, you'd need to do a lot more to offend. :) I haven't noticed the same thing you have. Even so, nothing wrong with patting yourself on the back once in a while. If you find it bothers you, then ask yourself why. Stuff like that should roll off your shoulders.

Yeah, you're right, it can just get annoying sometimes. Once again I think Vancouver is fantastic!! but if there is too much good publicity, people might be disappointed when they see the real thing.

um , B.C. is the best place on earth . lol

IMO there should be some kind of segregation of contestants by size. It is a silly excersise to compare a small college town to a world city with millions of people.

Indeed that would be, but it is not being done here. This particular "contest" concerns only the City of Vancouver, with a population of 587,891. I'm not sure what figures they used for Waterloo last year, but the KW area has 451,235 people. The article neglects to mention that Edmonton and Fredricton are also on this list.

look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend anybody , Vancouver is a GREAT place don't get me worng .but i just think that all the "bc: the greatest place of earth" stuff is a little bit excessive.

That doesn't make British Columbians as a whole ignorant. We didn't come up with the slogan. Most of us hate it. I don't like it because it does make us look very self centered.

"bc: probably the best place on earth" is much more acceptable. reminds me of "carlsberg beer" slogan.

^^ That sounds very non-confident. I actually laughed when I saw their slogan...it's like saying "I may possibly be the best person for the position..." on a resume; a good way to ensure you won't get the job.
Why not Beautiful British Columbia? I remember hearing it quite a bit before...

"BC.. Probably One of the Best Places on Earth (pending survey results)"! :lol:

maybe best to just get away from the claim altogether. The old
Super Natural one was better, or just plain old Beautiful British Columbia.

"BC.. Probably One of the Best Places on Earth (pending survey results)"! :lol:

maybe best to just get away from the claim altogether. The old
Super Natural one was better, or just plain old Beautiful British Columbia.

Actually you have a very good point! Hell you are a good advertisment for B.C. You remeber all the quotes! I am impressed! I was not as diligent!:)

smart like a fox

Actually you have a very good point! Hell you are a good advertisment for B.C. You remeber all the quotes! I am impressed! I was not as diligent!:)


When I was a kid I loved all the posters and calendars, and had them plastered all over my walls! :lol:

I actually wasn't even aware of the slogan, "Best Place on Earth", until today. I did a search to see what everyone was talking about, and some pictures of the new BC plates came up. I don't think it's meant to be taken literally. Definately sounds pompous when put next to Saskatchewan's "Land of Living Skies" or "Friendly Manitoba". Now that I think about it, it's awesome. It renders all other slogans as pointless. :lol: