Ottawa joins Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance

Published on
July 5, 2024
Business, economy and innovation

The City of Ottawa has been selected to participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance, a group working with cities to deploy data to meet resident needs and help solve citywide challenges.

Ottawa is one of 23 cities, including three Canadian cities, from North America, South America, and the Caribbean selected to join the Alliance this year.

To kick off the City’s participation, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has joined with other participating mayors – together representing nine countries and eight million people – to discuss ways to advance the use of data within their municipalities to improve outcomes for residents.

As part of the Alliance, City of Ottawa staff will receive multi-year operational and technical coaching on how to leverage data to assess the needs of residents, strengthen services, and advance the City's data practices. The goal is to develop a comprehensive Data Strategy that strengthens data management practices and positions the city for future growth.

Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance now includes 65 cities across 12 countries, making it an international consortium advancing data to improve lives.

QUOTES

“Our ability to manage and leverage data is crucial to meeting the needs of our growing and diverse population. Data informs our decisions on everything from affordable housing to transit services and emergency response. It helps us prepare for extreme weather events and supports job creation and economic growth. Through the Alliance, we have a unique opportunity to learn from other municipalities who face similar challenges, and to work together towards creative solutions.” 

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

“Cities that are harnessing the extraordinary amount of data out there are better positioned to understand resident needs, source innovative solutions, and lead from the front when it comes to artificial intelligence. The mayors of these 23 cities want to put their municipal governments in the driver’s seat when it comes to leveraging data – and the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance will help them develop the policies and practices to do just that.”

James Anderson, Government Innovation Program, Bloomberg Philanthropies

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram