Smart Cities Challenge

Open S.T.E.M. learning spaces for kids and families

The new Innovation center is a wonderful start but I would love to see more city-led or partnered learning opportunities for families. Our culture is so tech-focused now that it can be hard for older generations to develop the skills to keep up with their kids; Kelowna could be a leader in helping bridge that gap.

Rapid Transit in Kelowna connecting to airport from Lower Mission, West Kelowna, Glenmore

Create unique identify: Display arts and culture while attracting new businesses and talents

Create a unique identity of Kelowna by revitalizing major landmark, trails and iconic monuments using connected technology (architectural lighting, musical fountain, digital arts). Each monument connects people, resources and history through arts and specific services offered to residents and visitors. Celebrate the win or goals of local sports team, notify people about extreme weather by offering color-coded outdoor illuminating system. Most important transform core district into best place to do business and stimulate local economy with more service-oriented businesses. Connected trail impacts directly on health and wellness of citizen. It attract new talent and create new place to live, play and work Example: Montreal illuminating most downtown historical building and monuments, uses laser projection around the main streets, transformed Jacques Cartier bridge and old Montreal into destination place for young and old generation during day or night. Such beautifully illuminated skyline in the night, connects with young talents and transformed into #AI, #VR, #Gaming capital of Canada.

All-in-one Intelligent Street Lighting Pole: 4G broadband, Smart LED, Snow / water on the ground detection, Roadway condition detection

Transform lamp post in downtown and major intersections equipped with Centrally Managed System that provide right lighting and real-time information about weather, air quality, people movement, noise level, snow / water on roadway and walkway. System generates the real-time data that can be use to manage the all outdoor assets. Example - lighting that alerts when malfunctioning and have self-recovery option, Detecting thickness of water or Snow to ensure right services activated when and where needed, measures the roadway condition to predict when and where salt services are required, pole nicely integrated with small cell broadband technology that provides ubiquitous connectivity to residents and visitors. Wi-Fi kiosk in open collaborative space that provide access to digital information to all ages, ethnicity and gender. Several of the initiatives will addresses digital divide challenge including Indigenous peoples, immigrant and refugees live in urban areas. Adapt easy to use plug-n-play ITS, IoT and lighting technology in intersection that collects the data about where people spend more time and provide them safety during peak hours that addresses pedestrian safety and crowd management challenge. Given the changes in climate and rainfall patterns, the solution aims to provide cities with a tool to reduce urban flooding, prevent property damage. The effort represents a new way to address an old problem, and adds a level of strategy, efficiency, and effectiveness

Create attractive incentives for new local enterprises adopting circular economy principles.

The EllenMacArthur Foundation explains the circular economy well by stating: "Looking beyond the current "take, make and dispose” extractive industrial model, the circular economy is restorative and regenerative by design. Relying on system-wide innovation, it aims to redefine products and services to design waste out, while minimising negative impacts." I would hope the city would embrace this advanced method of doing business and create TRUE incentives for new businesses (or existing businesses making the shift) to adopt this model and be at the forefront of this new business mindfulness.