By Sheldon Spackman

Red Deer to compete in Smart Cities Challenge

Apr 9, 2018 | 4:28 PM

The City of Red Deer will be among many communities across the country taking part in Infrastructure Canada’s ‘Smart Cities Challenge.’

According to a published message by The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the challenge aims to encourage communities to bring their bold and innovative smart cities approaches to life and find solutions that achieve real and positive outcomes. It’s hoped these approaches will improve the lives of residents through innovation, data and connected technology.

Lisa Marie Perkins, Director of Corporate Services for the City of Red Deer says one initiative they are undertaking is to explore opportunities that could make Red Deer a more ‘Smart’ city through possible information and technology upgrades.

She says options include dynamic street lights that would increase in brightness when a vehicle drives into the neighbourhood and decrease when there’s no activity, saving money, improving safety and improve the environment as well.

A 311 number that hooks you up with any City department you need is another option according to Perkins or even using information like camera data to improve both traffic and pedestrian safety in the city.

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“The federal government has a $10 million grant open that we’re applying for in terms of helping our city be more dynamic, more economic development, increased safety and improved services,” reveals Perkins. “We have to apply for the grant in April and then we’ll hear whether or not we’ve been chosen as a finalist and we get to pilot one of those ideas and see how it works for Red Deer.”

According to Infrastructure Canada’s website, the Smart Cities Challenge is open to communities of all sizes, including municipalities, regional governments and Indigenous communities.

One prize of up to $50 million will be open to all communities, regardless of population;

Two prizes of up to $10 million is open to all communities with populations under 500,000 people; and

One prize of up to $5 million is open to all communities with populations under 30,000 people.

Applications are due April 24 with finalists to be announced this summer, winners to be announced in spring of 2019 and the projects themselves to be implemented following those announcements.

by Sheldon Spackman

Red Deer to compete in Smart Cities Challenge

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