By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Lethbridge takes on Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge

Feb 21, 2018 | 12:01 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The City of Lethbridge is in the initial stages of putting together an application for Infrastructure Canada’s “Smart City Challenge.”

The goal is to encourage communities to improve the lives of their residents through innovation, data and connected technology. The competition is open to any city in the country, of any size and includes municipalities and indigenous communities.

First prize is $50 million, there are two $10 million second prizes, while third prize is $5 million. All applications must be submitted by April 24, 2018 and judging will take place over the summer.

Finalists will receive $250,000 to go towards developing their proposals and winners will be announced in the Spring of 2019.

At Monday’s Council meeting, Intelligent Community Program Manager Vicky Bennett, described a Smart Initiative in the U.S. as an example: a city adds special streetlights that dim when no one is around to conserve energy, but light up when pedestrians pass by, track air pollution, spot parking spaces at night, and flash when there’s a gunshot – to alert police of potential shooting locations.

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Currently cities like San Diego use this kind of technology.

The Intelligent Community Leadership team is made up of Bennett, Lethbridge City Director of Infrastructure Services Doug Hawkins. General Manager of Information Technology Trevor Butler, Economic Development Lethbridge’s Trevor Lewington and EDL’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Jaylene Ulmer.

Each community taking part in the challenge will create their “Challenge Statement” from six categories:

• Feeling safe and secure
• Earning a good living
• Moving around their community
• Enjoying a healthy environment
• Being empowered and included in society
• Living a health and active life

The group is currently in step one of the application process, which involves reviewing existing studies, research and engagement.

Phase two begins February 28, and will include brainstorming sessions, and development of their draft challenge statements for consideration and feedback.

Phase three includes compiling information gathered, packaging it, and submitting it to Infrastructure Canada.

All proposal submitted will also be posted online so residents and stakeholders can see them.