ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

Stephen Chait, Director of Economic Development

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Stephen Chait, Director of Economic Development

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-June-21

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Knowledge Community Task Force

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Knowledge Community Task Force” be received,

 

That the recommended two year implementation program be received for information,

 

That a 9-person Knowledge Community Sub-Committee of Economic Development Committee supported by a staff technical support group be established to guide the design, costing, and implementation of the two year program,

 

And that the contents and findings of this report be communicated to the members of the Knowledge Community Task Force, and that they be thanked for their valuable input and participation.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

Early in 2004 the Town of Markham established a “Knowledge Community Task Force” co-chaired by Councillor Virgilio  and Councillor Horchick. The establishment of the Task Force provided a focus for examining the state of the Town’s knowledge-based infrastructure and the needs and opportunities for enhancing its condition as a strategy for improving Markham’s economic competitiveness and quality of life. A draft plan of action was approved by Council in February 2004 ( see attachment one), and invitations were sent to a broad cross-section of the Markham community to attend the first Task Force meeting. The Task Force meeting was held on May 2004 and generated a broad base of support for the Knowledge Community initiative as well as a wide variety of proposed initiatives ( see Meeting Minutes, Attachment Two). Over the balance of 2004 and the first half of 2005 the Mayor, Co-Chairs and members of Town Staff met individually and with several Task Force meeting participants to discuss appropriate next steps. Based on these discussions, a focused 2-year action program is now recommended for approval by Council.

 

 

DISCUSSION:

 

The “Knowledge Community” initiative should focus on three key objectives: identify and celebrate achievement and innovation; promote and facilitate lifelong learning; and enhance and add valuable infrastructure and services.

 

The Knowledge Community initiative is potentially of great strategic value to enhancing the Markham economy and quality of life. Knowledge gained through education (both on the job and in the classroom), through culture, research, and innovation lie at the heart of our economy, and is the source of our future prosperity. It is of relevance to all members of the Markham community regardless of age, gender, and economic status, but may be of particular value to three key groups.

 

            Key target audiences within Markham community

·        Youth; particularly high school and college/university aged youth

·        Business; particularly small and medium sized businesses (SME’s)

·        Skilled professionals and entrepreneurs; particularly foreign born and trained individuals who lack Canadian experience.

 

In order to streamline and focus the Knowledge Community initiative on a limited number of meaningful and achievable projects that will serve to establish the program and deliver measurable results, three objectives are proposed for adoption.

 

            1. Identify and celebrate achievement and innovation

                examples of proposed measures:

·           How many patents are held by Markham firms?

·           How many high school students receive university entry scholarships?

·           How does Markham as a Town rank versus other municipalities?

 

2. Promote and facilitate lifelong learning

    examples of proposed measures:

·        How many Markham firms provide formal continuing training?

·        How well represented is the “creative class” in Markham?

 

3.  Enhance and add valuable infrastructure and services

      proposed measures:

·        How well “connected” is Markham by broadband?

·        What is the annual volume of patent and copyright applications by Markham residents?

 

Each of these three objectives has specific projects that could be candidates for implementation as part of a two year Knowledge Community initiative. Several of these projects are either already in the early stages of development, or are under consideration by interest groups in the town.

 

Identifying and celebrating achievement and innovation

 

Knowledge Communities exist in Canada and around the world. From Chicago’s “CivicNet” project to “Singapore One”, from Calgary to Dubai, cities around the world are pursuing strategies to leverage knowledge and intelligence as competitive levers. In order to globally benchmark Markham versus other “knowledge communities” and to learn best practices from leading municipal practitioners/exponents, it is recommended that the Town subscribe and possibly join in relevant associations and “think tanks”. Council has endorsed this recommendation by supporting Regional Councillor Jones’s request to attend the annual “Intelligent Community Forum” (ICF) Conference in New York City ( June 10 and 11) to view the awards competition and learn about some of the best practices currently in place around the globe.

 

However, the ICF is only one of several well known and respected research organizations that can provide valuable learning, benchmarking resources, and feedback regarding Knowledge Communities and how they may be established and sustained. The Conference Board of Canada is an excellent candidate organization for the Town to consider accessing. The Conference Board is an acknowledged leader in conducting, publishing, and disseminating research in the fields of education, economic development, and public policy (including several scholarly papers and surveys regarding innovation and lifelong learning). Attachment Three to this report provides a profile of four other thinks tanks, two of which are located in Canada (i.e., Canadian Policy Research Networks, and the C.D. Howe Institute), and two in the USA (i.e., The Brookings Institute, and the Milken Institute).

 

Promoting and facilitating lifelong learning

 

“Creativity and Innovation Week” is an organized program of events, celebrations and award-giving that could serve to promote the Knowledge Community initiative in Markham and to showcase the Knowledge Community to the GTA and beyond. First established as “Creativity and Innovation Day” in Toronto in 2001, the program is now celebrated in 43 countries worldwide. Leading companies (including Markham companies such as Bell and Pfizer), cultural and educational institutions and entrepreneurs are becoming involved with this program. It is based on partnerships and had proven to be able to engage people of all ages and backgrounds, and can serve as a valuable showcase as well as an attraction. There is an excellent prospect for making Markham the location of the 2006 Creativity and Innovation Week (targeted for April 2006). Details about the 2005 program are presented as Attachment Four to this report.

 

Enhancing and adding infrastructure and services

 

The “OneYork” community broadband initiative is a highly relevant example of a newly launched initiative that is in close alignment with the objectives of the Knowledge Community. OneYork had been described in an earlier report to Council, and should be the subject of the active attention as a potentially valuable component of the Knowledge Community. There is also an opportunity to address the Knowledge Community objectives through another new initiative – “Patent and Intellectual Property” (IP) Counselling for youth and entrepreneurs”. To be delivered through the Markham Small Business Enterprise Centre (MSBEC), the purpose of this unique service will be to encourage increased innovation and the invention among Markham residents by making it easier and less costly to obtain expert advice. Based on observations made by the York Technology Association, by the MSBC Advisory Board, and by business and immigrant service association, there is an unserved opportunity to bring new ideas to the market and to commercialize new ideas. Not to be confused with the mission of the ISCM (Synergy Centre) which serves the needs of established businesses, the opportunity exists for the MSBEC to inspire and serve knowledge-creation and innovation at large and particularly among youth and new immigrants. Through a partnership between the Town, Seneca College, the Schulich School of Business, and the Province of Ontario (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade), this opportunity can potentially be piloted in Markham.

 

 

A new Sub-Committee of Economic Development Committee is recommended to guide the implementation of the two-year program.

 

The Task Force structure was appropriate to scoping out the concept and to engaging a wide number of community interest groups, but is not capable of implementing the action program. The Task Force lacks Council authority, it is too large a group and has no staff or budgetary resources. The successful implementation of the two year program requires Council leadership and commitment. As a sub-Committee of the Economic Development Committee, it is recommended that the Knowledge Community Sub-Committee be comprised of 9 members supported by a 5-member staff technical support group. This would provide a more focused and sustainable basis to implement the program.

 

9-member Sub-Committee to be drawn from:

          Markham Council                                                Markham Board of Trade

          York Technology Association                               School Boards

          Colleges/Universities                                            Ontario government

 

5-member Sub Committee staff technical support drawn from:

          Economic Development                                        Strategic Initiatives

          Varley Gallery                                                      Markham Public Libraries

          Corporate Communications                                  ITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The Sub-Committee will draft a budget in support of its 2-year program. In 2005 the Sub-Committee will draw on resources and funds that may be available from within existing approved Town budgets. All 2006 obligations will be subject to the presentation of a budget request and consideration of pre-budget approval in the autumn of 2005

                                                                                   

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The Knowledge Community initiative is consistent with the Town’s economic development and community goals.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Several Department Directors representing all three Commissions have been consulted in the drafting of this report.

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

1.      February 16, 2004 Knowledge Community Task Force Terms of Reference

2.      May 26, 2004 Minutes of the Knowledge Community Task Force Meeting.

3.      Think Tanks.

4.      Creativity and Innovation Week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Chait, Ec.D., CMC

Director of Economic Development

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

Y:\Economic Development\Stephen\Economic Development\2005 Reports\Knowledge Community Task Force.June 21 2005.doc