Waterloo named one of the World's Top Seven Intelligent Communities two years running

(January 18, 2007) WATERLOO, ON - Once again, the Intelligent Communities Forum (ICF) has recognized Waterloo as being among the Top Seven Intelligent Communities from around the world, after being named to the short list of the Smart 21 Cities last November.

The announcement of these seven finalists puts Waterloo in the list of communities being considered as the Intelligent Community of the Year, recognizing the community that best exemplifies the development of a prosperous economy based on broadband and information technology.

Other communities named to the list of the Top 7 for 2007 include the following:

• Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Gangnam, District, Seoul, South Korea
• Issy les Moulineaux, France
• Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario-Quebec, Canada
• Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom
• Tallin, Estonia

In announcing Waterloo, Lou Zacharilla, ICF Director of Development, referred to Waterloo as a community that never rests on its laurels, that breeds innovation.

"When you consider the list of communities that have been recognized through this process, it truly is an honour to see our City among them," says Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran. "The story we have to tell in Waterloo is unique. As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we are a community that has a long-standing history of reinventing itself. Being recognized as one of Top 7 Intelligent Communities is a reflection not only of our prosperous present, but of our focus on continuing to build a promising future, on fostering innovation and technology that builds community."

In November, the ICF announced that Waterloo was among the 'Smart 21' communities, placing Waterloo in the list of semi-finalists being considered for the Top Seven list. ICF is a special interest group within the World Teleport Association that focuses on the uses of broadband technology for economic development by communities large and small in both the developed and developing world.

Each year, ICF selects communities from around the world to appear on its list of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year. These seven communities are selected based on indicators that include the significant deployment of broadband communications, the extent to which the community enables a knowledge workforce, the promotion of digital democracy, the ability to foster innovation, and effective economic development marketing that leverages the community's broadband, labor and other assets to attract new employees.

At the heart of Waterloo's nomination is a focus on working together. David Johnston, President of the University of Waterloo, and member of the Intelligent Waterloo Leadership Group, believes a unique spirit of collaboration is at work in Waterloo. "There is the spirit of taking talent and ideas from different spheres and different settings and putting them together for a common purpose, that common purpose being to grow the community better than any community I know."

Waterloo's nomination credits several organizations that include the universities, libraries, hospitals and schools as well as companies such as RIM, Open Text, Sandvine, and iAnywhere that export their products, technology and services around the world. It also notes the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, The Centre for International Governance Innovation, The Institute for Quantum Computing, The Research and Technology Park, and the presence of Communitech and Canada's Technology Triangle Inc. as being further reflections of the collaboration and leadership as an Intelligent Community.

"Being named to the list of the world's Top 7 Intelligent Communities for the second time speaks volumes to what Waterloo has to offer as a community," says Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO, Research in Motion, Honourary Chair of the Waterloo's Intelligent Community Steering Committee, and a member of the Intelligent Waterloo Leadership Group. "Anyone who lives and does business in Waterloo knows that the community is unique. In Waterloo, good things happen because there is a focus on creating an environment built on collaboration, on maximizing our collective resources, and on leadership that moves the community forward."

Adds Waterloo City Councillor Mark Whaley, "It's important for government, academia, business and non-profit organizations to be on the same page in order for the community to evolve. Beyond collaboration, we are a community that embraces new ideas and builds upon them, ensuring that innovation isn't just about how we think, but how we act as a community."

The submission for 2007 was created by a committee that included public sector, private sector and not for profit representatives was formed. This included:

Intelligent Waterloo Leadership Group:

Jim Balsillie, RIM (Honourary Chair)
David Johnston, President, University of Waterloo
Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran

Intelligent Waterloo Committee Members:

Simon Farbrother, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Waterloo (Chair)
Waterloo City Councillor Mark Whaley
Steve McCartney, President, Atria Networks
Colleen Fitzpatrick, Centre for International Governance Innovation
Don Cowan, Computer Systems Group
Doug Muholland, Computer Systems Group
Shirley Fenton, Waterloo Institute for Health Informatics Research, UW
Cathy Matyas, Waterloo Public Library
Catherine Rosenberg, Centre for Wireless Research, UW
Steve Farlow, Wilfrid Laurier University
Linda Fegan, Canada's Technology Triangle Inc
Mike McKeever, Waterloo Public Library
Ken McLaughlin, University of Waterloo
Ellen Jones, Waterloo Public Library
Trudy Beaulne, Social Planning Council of Kitchener Waterloo
Vic Degutis, Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Bruce Hawkins, City of Waterloo
Garry Bezruki, City of Waterloo
Marlene Coffey, City of Waterloo
Patti McKague, City of Waterloo
Elaine Nesbitt, City of Waterloo

"This recognition reinforces the fact that Waterloo is indeed among global leaders when it comes to leveraging technology to better our community on many fronts. When members of our committee first came together, there was a sense that combined, the efforts throughout the community tell a powerful story," said Simon Farbrother, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Waterloo and chair of the committee.

In March, Farbrother and Brenda Halloran will participate in an Asia Immersion Lab touring previous Top 7 finalists that include Tianjin, China; Mitaka, Japan; and Taipei, Taiwan to learn more about their efforts as intelligent communities.

The Top Seven Intelligent Communities finalists will learn who is named the Top Intelligent Community at the ICF Conference in New York in May. Last year's Intelligent Community was Taipei, Taiwan.

For further information,
Patti McKague, Director, Communications and Marketing
City of Waterloo
(519) 747-8748 or (519) 577-4812 (cell)

For information about ICF's Intelligent Community Awards,
Visit www.intelligentcommunity.org