Mayor's Innovation Challenge - Categories

Mayor's Innovation Challenge - Categories

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This pitch could launch your career. Mayor's Innovation Challenge.

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Challenge Categories

The Mayor's Innovation Challenge is calling on teams of students from Kingston's major post-secondary institutions – St. Lawrence College, Queen's University and Royal Military College – to submit innovative proposals that aim to improve the quality of life of Kingston residents. 

There are two distinct challenge streams: the Dunin-Deshpande Smart Kingston Stream and the Public Sector Innovation Stream. 

Dunin-Deshpande Smart Cities Stream

The Smart Kingston Stream is calling on creative minds to leverage emerging technologies and develop new innovations that enhance the delivery of municipal services. With access to the City's extensive open data portal and with the City of Kingston as a potential first customer, this challenge aims to give entrepreneurs a chance to develop and pilot their solutions to advance Kingston as a smart, livable and leading city. 

Experience from previous years has shown that teams with a diverse, interdisciplinary make-up have been very successful at developing a socially desirable product. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is highly encouraged in proposals for the Smart Cities Challenge. 

Submission deadline: Feb. 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. 

Public Sector Innovation Stream

The Public Sector Innovation stream is broad in scope and asks students to consider how the City of Kingston can work to improve the quality of life of residents. The City is responsible for a wide range of programming and service delivery: from operating recreation facilities, to road and sidewalk maintenance, to carrying out large municipal infrastructure projects, to waste collection, to implementing environmental sustainability initiatives and much more.

There are many ways that this stream can be applied, but students should consider the parameters of the municipality, what can be implemented at this level of government, and are encouraged to think about some of the City’s established priorities. 

Submission deadline: Feb. 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. 

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Challenge Information

Smart Kingston Stream

As part of building a smart, livable and leading city, how can the City leverage emerging technologies and innovations to disrupt and enhance the services delivered to our residents?

Supporting information

Current City examples

  • Honk App: Residents and visitors can seamlessly search, pay for and top up parking from a phone, tablet or computer
  • Sewer overflow: Users can consult our real-time sewer overflow map before they swim at certain locations at Lake Ontario within 48 hours of a heavy rainfall
  • Real-time Transit Data: Kingston Transit passengers receive real-time arrival and departure information for all Kingston Transit routes using their computer, smartphone, tablet or with their preferred transit app.

Open Data Portal

  • Land Use Designation
  • Project Status Reports
  • Election Results Archive
  • Transit Bus Routes (GRFS-static)
  • Transit Bus Stops (GRFS-static)
  • Transit Vehicle Positions, Trip Updates, & Service Alerts (GTFS-realtime)
  • Road Surface
  • Paths
  • Parks
  • Parking Areas
  • Driveways
  • Buildings
  • Sidewalk Surface
  • Road Segments
  • Consolidated Zoning Boundaries
  • Cycling Facilities
  • Trails
  • Civic Addresses
  • Municipal Boundary
  • Neighbourhoods
  • Waterbody
  • River Segments
  • Points of Interest
  • Electoral Districts
  • Smart City Report
  • Kingston Map

Public Sector Stream

The Public Sector Innovation stream is broad in scope and asks students to consider how the City of Kingston can work to improve the quality of life of residents. The City is responsible for a wide range of programming and service delivery: from operating recreation facilities, to road and sidewalk maintenance, to carrying out large municipal infrastructure projects, to waste collection, to implementing environmental sustainability initiatives and much more. There are many ways that this stream can be applied, but students should consider the parameters of the municipality, what can be implemented at this level of government, and are encouraged to think about the strategic priorities that have been established by Kingston City Council.

Kingston’s Strategic Plan includes five distinct priorities: demonstrate leadership on climate action; increase housing affordability; improve walkability, roads and transportation; strengthen economic development opportunities; and foster health citizens and vibrant spaces.