Three Ontario communities make global ‘Smart 21’ list, including Durham Region and Kingston

Smart, we are in Durham Region. Kingston too. We know this because the global Intelligent Communities Forum had us tested.

For the fourth year in a row the Region of Durham has been recognized as one of the Smart 21 Communities in the world, an honour that speaks to the “innovation and partnership” happening in the region, which has embraced a ‘technology for all’ philosophy.

Durham was one of three Ontario and four Canadian communities on the top 21 list, sharing the honours with Kingston and Grey County in Ontario and Langley, B.C.

For Kingston, it was a return to the list for the first time since 2014.

“This recognition affirms Kingston’s position as a leading innoivative community on the global stage,” said Kingston Economic Development Corporation CEO Donna Gillespie. “By strategically investing in digital infrastructure, fostering an inclusive innovative ecosystem and focusing on sustainability, we aew fostering an environment where business and residents can thrive.”

The ICF rankings are based on six factors: connectivity, knowledge, workforce, innovation, digital inclusion, sustainability and engagement.

Gaining a place among the year’s Smart21 is considered a badge of honor as well as the first step greater recognition as an Intelligent Community positioned to prosper in the broadband economy.

Durham was cited for investing in broadband to provide essential digital infrastructure for innovation and economic growth, fostering innovation across the region, leading in sustainable living and moving towards cleaner, smarter energy use.

The region is also on a run of three straight years making the ICF’s next cut, the Top 7 Intelligent Communities, with the forum making that announcement in June.

In October the ICF will name the Intelligent Community of the Year.

Last year’s winner was Curitiba, Brazil and Canadian cities have won the award five times since its inception in 1999: Winnipeg (2021), Montreal (2016), Toronto (2014), Waterloo (2007) and Calgary (2002).

Durham Region is also just the second community in Canada to receive the full Intelligent Community certification, a standard that affirms that Durham has high-quality connectivity, effective workforce development, a business innovation ecosystem with “meaningful community engagement,” digital inclusion and sustainability programs in place.

The Intelligent Certification, which is good until 2027 and is shared by just three other global communities, is awarded to cities and regions who are “using innovation to improve the quality of life of their residents,” Durham Region Chair John Henry said last year.

Engineering innovation is a big part of the ICF certification for the ‘Clean Energy Capital of Canada,’ with Durham providing nearly a third of the province’s energy needs. Energy engineering is a major employer as a result, with innovative projects like the first grid-tied small modular reactor project being developed at the Darlington nuclear plant in Clarington.

The region is also home to automotive manufacturing, a thriving film production industry and globally recognized research facilities such as the multi-climate ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel at Oshawa’s Ontario Tech University.

Durham Region has also completed the first phase of a 700-kilometer fiber network targeting underserved rural areas and last March Durham made headlines with the successful delivery of the third generation of the CityROVER A.I. system for pothole detection.

“Durham Region offers an exceptional quality of life, making it a great place to live, work and invest,” Henry said. “This credential affirms the collective work of our local area municipalities, post-secondary institutions, boards of trade and chambers of commerce, incubators and more that is positioning Durham for continued success.”

Other communities achieving ‘Intelligent Certification in 2024 include Winnipeg, Hilliard, Ohio and New Taipei City in Taiwan.

Durham Region’s innovation community is also preparing to show global decision makers its technological advancements at HANNOVER MESSE 2025 – the world’s most important tradeshow for industrial and energy technologies, taking place in Hanover, Germany, from March 31 to April 4.

“Durham Region is energizing industrial innovation,” said Henry. “We are building a future that turns research and development into job creation and investment. Collaboration, alongside a strong talent pipeline, is leading to innovators in Durham Region solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.”

Check out the 2024 Durham Region Top7 video highlights what makes Durham Region an intelligent community.