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Monday, February 23, 2009

Fredericton Named to Top Seven Intelligent Community Shortlist
Fredericton, NB (January 21, 2009)

For the second year in a row, Fredericton has been named to the shortlist of the world's smartest cities. The City was named one of the Intelligent Community Forum's Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year during the annual conference of the Pacific Telecommunications Council in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"Last year, we were excited to make the Top Seven and to repeat is amazing," said Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside, who was invited to the conference to participate in a panel discussion about "How Intelligent Communities Collaborate to Develop Successful Private / Public Partnerships & Funding Models for Broadband. "We came very close to winning the title of the world's smartest city last year and we are in the running again in 2009."

The Intelligent Community of the Year award is presented annually to communities or regions with a documented strategy for creating a local prosperity and inclusion using broadband and information technology to attract leading-edge businesses, stimulate job creation, build skills, generate economic growth, and improve the delivery of government services.

Fredericton was named to the 2009 Smart21 list in October 2008. The selection of the Smart21 and Top Seven Intelligent Communities is guided by an annual theme. In 2009, the theme is "culture of use" with weight given to communities that develop or expand broadband networks, educate citizens of all ages on the use of computers, the Web and Web-based applications.
Emphasis is also placed on those who put government functions and civic life online and who celebrate digital experiences and engagement through local events, conferences, promotion through special events and local media campaigns. The selection committee also looks for communities that demonstrate the value of broadband in economic, social and cultural life.

Fredericton's is joined in the race for the most Intelligent Community of the Year by Bristol, Virginia, USA; Eindhoven, Netherlands; Issy-les-Moulineaux, France; Moncton, New Brunswick: Stockholm, Sweden; and, Tallinn, Estonia.

The winner will be announced in May 2009, following site visits to each of the Top 7 communities.

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