Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/2/2016 (1680 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg has once again made it on the Intelligent Community Forum’s (ICF) list of the top seven intelligent communities in the world.

It’s the second time in three years Winnipeg has been included on the prestigious ranking and the fifth time it's been in the top 21.

This year’s theme was From Revolution to Renaissance. Applicants were asked to consider the ways cities and towns plan for their future at a time when the economy, the environment, and the patterns of urban and rural life are experiencing dramatic change.

The judges noted a couple of reasons why Winnipeg made the cut.

One was how the city pursues economic growth by systematically connecting industry and education. The other was how the city’s indigenous and cultural assets are leveraged.

Greg Dandewich, senior vice-president of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., said, "This year’s top-seven finish is evidence that we continue to be a global leader when it comes to integrating public and private enterprises with education and training initiatives in ways that consistently resonate with intended audiences both here and around the world."

In alphabetical order, the 2016 Top 7 Intelligent Communities are:

Hsinchu County, Taiwan

Montreal, Quebec

Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany

New Taipei City, Taiwan

Surrey, British Columbia

Whanganui, New Zealand

Winnipeg, Manitoba

The 2016 Intelligent Community of the Year will be announced on June 16 in Columbus, Ohio, which was the 2015 winner.