Mississauga is looking “future-forward” after the first-ever Smart City Master Plan was approved Wednesday. The plan, approved at the last general committee meeting before the summer break, is set to focus on how technology will continue to enhance the quality of life in Mississauga and help prepare for the future. A Smart City uses digital technologies to help support people who live, work and play in their city. This can include online services to pay bills and sign up for swim classes, free public Wi-Fi hotspots, events (such as hackathons) and infrastructure projects – such as traffic management systems and 5G network support. The Master Plan will guide the city for the next ten years as it continues to evolve. The directions included in the plan will be used to shape policy and move ahead with digital transformation at the city and in the community. “Mississauga is working to become a municipal leader when it comes to leveraging smart technology and innovation to engage our residents and solve some of our City’s most pressing issues,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “A ‘Smart Mississauga’ will be a well-connected, sustainable city where everyone can live, work and thrive for generations to come. Our new plan will help ensure that as Mississauga transforms into a modern, global city, that we stay at the forefront of innovation and technology to ensure we are not only meeting the needs of the present, but giving future generations the ability to meet theirs.” The proposed initiatives will focus on creating vibrant, inclusive communities with a high quality of life. These include: Living Labs – which test new technologies in a reallife context and provide an opportunity for the public to be involved in the process. Innovation Challenges – an opportunity to solve local problems with a callout to the public to submit their ideas. Centre for Civic Curiosity – a roaming engagement hub where the public can explore, learn, connect and contribute to the City’s future through a series of activities such as talks, workshops and demonstrations about Smart City technologies and their cultural implications. Citizen-Centred Smart City Policy – this will guide Smart City initiatives in areas such as data privacy and transparency and will be co-created with the public. “Over the past year, we’ve engaged our community in an extensive series of in-person and online discussions where we received valuable input on our proposed Smart City Master Plan,” said Shawn Slack, the city’s chief information officer. “The Master Plan aims to create a ‘Smart City for Everybody’ that will help bridge the divide between those who have access to technology and those who do not. Thank you to everyone who participated and provided feedback – this truly shapes the future of technology for our City.” The plan will go to Council for final approval on Wednesday, July 3. For more information, visit the Smart City website at mississauga.ca/smartcity.
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