In a recent LinkedIn post, Steve Orsini, head of the Ontario Public Service, highlighted how “Ontario will release a Digital Government Action Plan that unveils a vision for transforming government online, including creating a new digital service office, led by a chief digital officer, to drive change across government.”
Like the Province, the City of Mississauga is a digital innovator. We are using technology to drive change by developing digital solutions for the delivery of improved, efficient and effective public services.
In June 2015, Council unanimously approved a new open data program. Open data is public information that is accessible and easy to understand. The data is unrestricted to copyrights, patents or other mechanisms of control. Mississauga open data is free because everyone has a right to it.
Data sets can be easily accessed on the City’s open data website – Mississauga Data. Think of it as a virtual twenty-first century library but with a growing collection of bestselling ideas in need of an author to start writing – or in this case, coding!
The City’s comprehensive open data platform was the catalyst for Mississauga to connect active minds to the information, has which culminated in the City’s first-ever Code and The City Idea Jam event.
We are inviting the best and the brightest – students and seasoned professionals – to participate in our inaugural Code and the City Mississauga event.
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 community services.
With open data, our next big idea is in the hands of Mississaugans.
With greater access to open data, people are invited and encouraged to connect the dots. Municipalities are positioned to be at the forefront of integrating technology to elevate the quality of life for all residents.