The annual University of Waterloo Planning Alumni of Toronto dinner continued a tradition that stretches an amazing 24 years by filling the Royal York Hotel Canadian Room to capacity for an evening of networking and education. Over the years the dinner has grown in importance beyond its impressive roster of alumni, and is now the annual event of record for the planning and development community in the Toronto region.

This year’s keynote speaker was Robert Bell, co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a New York City based think tank focused on economic development and job creation in the digital age. Bell delivered a passionate case for the elevated role for Information and Communications Technology ICT in the planning, building and operations of modern cities.

The ICF recently named the City of Toronto the Intelligent Community of the Year in recognition of such institutions as the MaRS Discovery District, Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone, the Regent park renaissance, our globally renowned public library system, and the super high capacity broadband community emerging under the direction of Waterfront Toronto. Toronto will also play host to the 2015 ICF Summit this coming year, bringing senior municipal politicians, bureaucrats and economic development officials to learn how to leverage ICT to drive economic development and a better quality of life for residents.

Photo courtesy of Duncan McAllister, Nebulix