Vancouver is starting to strengthen its standing as a major international tech hub. Recognizing this, the Mayor and City Council will vote next week on the first-ever digital strategy for the City of Vancouver, continuing City Hall’s work to support the local digital economy and improve service delivery for citizens.
The strategy focuses on improving the way the City provides services online for citizens and small businesses, supporting our dynamic local digital media industry, and putting Vancouver at the forefront of support for digital innovation.
“Making Vancouver a leader in digital innovation has been a key priority of my work as Mayor,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “The City’s first-ever digital strategy represents another significant step forward in our efforts to improve how City Hall does business and engages with citizens, how we support leading-edge job creation in our local technology and creative sectors, and how we foster digital innovation to make life better for all Vancouver residents.”
PriceWaterhouseCoopers compared the City of Vancouver’s digital assets to global cities including New York, Chicago, and London. They found that Vancouver has made important progress, but currently fits in the middle of the pack in some areas and significant potential for growth and new leadership.
The strategy establishes a four-year roadmap and nine leading priorities, including expanded open data access, more communication and engagement through digital tools, and expanding digital access throughout the city.
Action items include:
- Expanding free wi-fi access in City facilities and key public destinations, e.g. Granville Mall
- Identifying a dedicated digital services team
- Establishing an incubation program to recruit and retain digital talent and investment in Vancouver. This incubation centre will most likely be located at the old Police Station on Main Street.
To view the full draft of Vancouver’s first-ever digital strategy, click here
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