Tim Anderson: Driving innovation through partnerships, constant communication

The City of Waterloo has established a global reputation as a leader in municipal innovation, with future-focused transit systems and modern community design being just part of the puzzle.

Waterloo CAO Tim Anderson shared his thoughts on these efforts, and how the community has been engaged to become a true partner in embracing innovative ideas, when he said down with Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner for a conversation in Quebec City.

Waterloo Partnerships Grow Innovative Culture

That reputation, Anderson said in the video, has been strengthened through the city’s – actually, the entirety of Waterloo Region’s – partnerships with the University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, and Conestoga College.

“We’re renowned, worldwide really, for innovation and I think it’s a result of the University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, and Conestoga College for driving us on the world economy,” Anderson said. “We’re really lucky to have those post-secondary institutions, and they help drive us forward on the innovation front.”

Focusing on a Game-Changing Future

In 2019, the Region of Waterloo completed the new future-oriented light rail transit system called the ION. Anderson describes it as “a game changer” for the transportation movement within Waterloo Region.

However, it was the constant communication between the regional governments and the general public that Anderson said shows the true innovation of the Waterloo Region.

“Community-wise, regular updates to the community around how do you get around downtown, how do you get around uptown, where can you park, what is open, what is closed in terms of transportation routes. A very, very large communication campaign throughout,” he said. “Was it perfect? Probably not 100 percent perfect, but I know a significant amount of effort went into it … I believe mitigating [problems] to a greatest extent.”

From a development and growth perspective, he added, the region is already seeing the benefits of that significant public sector investment.

Another driver of local innovation in Waterloo Region is Evolv1, Canada’s first net-positive, carbon-free office building. The facility – which collaborative workspace for entrepreneurs, researchers, and clean economy supporters – is home to some 100 tenants and there is already visions of launching Evolv2, as Anderson details in the video.  MW

✯ Municipal World Insider and Executive Members: You might also be interested in Suzane Greeman’s articles: Multi-stakeholder collaboration in the municipal sector. Note that you can now access the complete collection of past articles (and more) from your membership dashboard.

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