Monday, Oct 26 2020
BRAMPTON, ON (October 26, 2020) – The City of Brampton was awarded a Bronze rank for its Innovation District & Postsecondary Partnerships at the recent International Economic Development Council (IEDC)’s 2020 Excellence in Economic Development Awards.
The Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. 35 award categories honour organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Awards were judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world, following a nomination process held earlier this year.
The City of Brampton was recognized in the “Partnerships with Educational Institutions” category.
The City of Brampton is building an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in its downtown, branded the Innovation District. The Innovation District capitalizes on partnerships with educational institutions including Ryerson University and Algoma University to provide education and talent development, and start-up incubation and accelerator space. Partnerships with these institutions and others are the foundation of Brampton’s innovation ecosystem.
The City’s partnership with Ryerson establishes Brampton as a centre of excellence in cybersecurity. The Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst by Ryerson is a national centre for innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity; with the City a funding contributor with FedDev, and private sector partners. The City also partnered with Ryerson to establish the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator and Ryerson Venture Zone, creating access to incubators, funding, networking and specialized mentorship.
The City’s partnership with Algoma supports expansion of their Brampton Campus in the downtown, increasing access to affordable education. Increasing the campus footprint and enrollment and introducing new programming is contributing to a revitalized downtown by enabling youth to study, live and work in Brampton.
The expansion of the Innovation District is a key element of Brampton’s economic growth. The partnerships with educational institutions, along with partnerships with the other organizations in the Innovation District, establish a solid foundation for the Innovation District and help to attract new partners to the district. The goal for the Innovation District is that it will offer a suite of supports for entrepreneurs and businesses to access at every stage of their journey.
The International Economic Development Council is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the world’s largest membership organization serving the economic development profession.
Quotes
“Strong partnerships in all areas are critical to the wellbeing of our City – we know we can’t do it all alone, especially as we look to recovery. Thank you to our partners for coming to the table and working collaboratively with us to move our City positively into a thriving and prosperous future.”
– Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton
“The continued development of our Innovation District is a key action in our Economic Recovery Strategy, and our partnerships play an integral role in our success. As we move our City forward through COVID-19 and eventually out of the pandemic, we are committed to working with our partners to provide our entrepreneurs and business community with a suite of supports to help enable their full recovery and future growth.”
– Paul Vicente, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5; Vice-Chair, Economic Development and Culture; Co-Chair, Mayor’s COVID-19 Economic Support Task Force, City of Brampton
“I’d like to commend our staff for the work they do every day to build partnerships in our community. We always strive for excellence, and this award is a testament to the behind-the-scenes work our Economic Development staff do every day to build partnerships which enhance our City and benefit residents.”
– David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton
“The winners of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the very best of economic development and exemplify the ingenuity, integrity, and leadership that our profession strives for each and every day. We’re honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing campaigns, projects and partnerships have measurably improved regional quality of life.”
– Kenny McDonald, 2020 IEDC Board Chair; Chief Executive Officer, One Columbus
“Ryerson University is thrilled to have played a role in this distinction for the City of Brampton. Through Ryerson’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and the Ryerson Venture Zone in Brampton, the University provides the expertise and experience to help drive innovation and build entrepreneurship in Brampton. We look forward to continuing to grow these partnerships in the future.”
– Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ryerson University
“Algoma University was pleased to learn of the recognition being bestowed upon the City of Brampton by the IEDC. The outstanding leadership, vision and commitment to partnership exhibited by city officials helped support enrolment growth of 223 percent at Algoma in 2019-20 as we continue to expand post-secondary access within the heart of downtown Brampton. These efforts will have both short and long-term economic and social benefits to this growing community.”
– Craig Fowler, Vice President, Growth, Innovation and External Relations, Algoma UniversityCraig Fowler, Vice President, Growth, Innovation and External Relations, Algoma University
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As one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, Brampton is home to 650,000 people and 70,000 businesses. People are at the heart of everything we do. We are energized by our diverse communities, we attract investment, and we are embarking on a journey to lead technological and environmental innovation. We partner for progress to build a healthy city that is safe, sustainable and successful. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn more at www.brampton.ca.
MEDIA CONTACT
Natalie Stogdill
Media Relations, City of Brampton
905.874.3654 | natalie.stogdill@brampton.ca