Research Brief

November 20, 2023

Smart Resilience for Canadian Municipalities

hydroponic vertical farm growing basil and lettuce

by Evergreen

for the Community Solutions Network

Technology-based solutions can improve climate change resilience and can be applied to diverse communities of all sizes.

There are many different perspectives in understanding a “smart city” and its use. Here, a smart city refers to “a resilient, inclusive and collaboratively built community that uses technology and data to better the quality of life for all people.”

The term “smart city” throughout this research brief refers to all communities of all sizes regardless of the city, town, village, region or other community scale.

Smart cities tend to be rooted in technology or skilled processes that have a colonial bias and are often associated with Western narratives of progress. As such, it’s important to approach smart cities and smart city planning and design through a decolonial framework

Smart cities and climate resilience 

The emergence of new technologies can help communities develop new solutions to climate issues, as well as increase their understanding of environmental obstacles. The brief also showcases practical and local-level case studies in Canada that highlight the role of data and technology in climate resilience alongside tips for implementing successful smart solutions.

Case Studies:

  • Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba
  • the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories

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