City of Mississauga to Co-Host First Open Data Idea Jam – Code and the City

The City of Mississauga will co-host “Code and The City”, an idea jam, in partnership with Sheridan College and I-CUBE (University of Toronto Mississauga) to mark International Open Data Day on March 5, 2016.

As an early adopter of open data in 2010, the City of Mississauga was one of the first 12 public sector agencies in Canada to publish open data, on the City’s website. The website describes the purpose of open data and provides accessible data sets.

“We are inviting the best and the brightest – students and seasoned professionals – to participate in our inaugural Code and the City Mississauga event,” Mayor Bonnie Crombie said. “Participants will mine through mountains of open data and it is our aim that this greater access to information will empower participants to use City data sets for software and website development. Participants will help ignite new applications that have the potential to deliver smarter, effective and more efficient community services,” Mayor Crombie added. “With open data, our next big idea is in the hands of Mississaugans.”

“The City of Mississauga is a digital innovator. Code and the City is one of many initiatives to advance our community through digital,” said Shawn Slack, Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. This event will  create a greater awareness of Mississauga’s open data sets and educate the community on how the City’s information and services can be accessed through the use of technology.”

At Code and the City, 75 developers, designers, mappers and information analysts will gather to share, discuss, network and collaborate on ideas through the use of open data. Participants will have the opportunity to attend open workshops led by industry professionals and instructors.

All teams will present their submissions to fellow participants and judges. The event aims to create actionable solutions for improving how Mississauga can gain greater awareness and engagement with the community in a digital environment.

The winning solutions can earn up to $6,000 in cash and prizes.

What:

Open data sets. Workshops. 75 thinkers. Infinite ideas.

Date:

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Where:

Sheridan College, Hazel McCallion Campus, Mississauga, 4180 Duke of York Blvd.

Schedule:

8 – 9 am Check-In, Breakfast
9 – 9:15 am: Opening Remarks, Mayor’s Welcome
9:15 – 9:30 am: Snapshot of Technology in Mississauga – Shawn Slack, Director of Information Technology & CIO and Sven Tretrop, Manager, IT Architecture & Innovation, City of Mississauga
9:30 – 9:45 am: Speaking Opportunity (Sheridan College, I-CUBE UTM)
9:45 – 10 am: Speaking Opportunity (Presenting Title Sponsor)

10 am – 6:00 pm: Idea Jam
11 am – 1:00 pm: Marketplace (Sponsors/Vendors)
12:00 pm – Lunch

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Open Workshops
5 pm – Dinner

6 pm – 7pm: Speed Pitch Sessions (Idea Jam groups present to Judges)
7:15 pm – 7:45 pm: Top 3 Presentations (Judging)
7:45 pm – 8pm: Quick Break (Judges make final decisions)

8pm: Awards and Closing Remarks

For more information or to register, visit codeandthecity.ca

Background

International Open Data Day is a gathering of citizens in cities around the world to write applications, liberate data, create visualizations and publish analyses using open public data to show support for and encourage the adoption of open data policies by the world’s local, regional and national governments.

I-CUBE, University of Toronto Mississauga

I-CUBE is the business accelerator at the Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto Mississauga. I-CUBE offers students and community youth early-stage business development  and commercialization services including an entrepreneurial curriculum, business advisory services, collaborative space, expert speaker sessions, and a mentorship program.

Sheridan College

Founded in 1967, Sheridan has grown from a local college of 400 students to one of Ontario’s leading postsecondary institutions, educating approximately 18,000 full-time and 35,000 continuing and part-time studies students every year on four campuses in three Ontario cities – Oakville, Brampton, and Mississauga.