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Data-Driven Infrastructure and Community: Unleashing Potential, Inspiring Action
About
Fully utilizing infrastructure and community data remains a challenge for organizations, limiting the ability to deliver efficient services and make informed decisions. The conference's overall goal is to increase knowledge sharing and awareness of a range of infrastructure and community data products from various sources. There is a wealth of data products, collection, and creation in this area, but with no central, universal resource center to access or be made aware of it. As such the existence of data is often masked or unknown.
Join us for two half-days, from 1PM EST to 4PM EST on Wednesday, November 13 and Thursday, November 14. This is a free, bilingual event, where attendees can expect keynote presentations, panel discussions, Q+A, and data product demonstrations, featuring leading experts in their fields. We aim to showcase successful data use cases, identify barriers to implementation, and chart a path forward for maximizing the value of infrastructure data.
Should you wish to attend, kindly complete this form.
If you have any additional questions, or for more information, please contact data-donnees@infc.gc.ca
Agenda
Facilitators and Panelists
| Session: | 1:30PM - 2:30 PM: Transportation |
|---|---|
| Facilitator: | Joelle Mader (Assistant Director, Statistics Canada) |
| Panelists: | Brigitte St-Pierre (Director, Transportation Systems Modeling, Québec Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility) |
| Trevor Hanson (Professor of Civil Engineering, University of New Brunswick) | |
| Ilan Elgar (Director of Research and Analytics, TransLink) |
| Session: | 3:00PM - 3:45 PM: Water |
|---|---|
| Facilitator: | Negash Haile (Director, Economic Analysis and Modelling Policy and Results Branch, HICC) |
| Panelists: | Leif Stephanson (Director, Water and Nature-based Infrastructure Systems Division, HICC) |
| Nancy Hill (Municipal Infrastructure Engineer, Project Manager, Climate Change and Stormwater Specialist, AECOM) | |
| Jim Young (Data Lead, Environment and Climate Change Canada - Canada Water Agency) |
| Session: | 1:15PM - 2:30 PM: Communities |
|---|---|
| Facilitator: | Natalie Frank (Director, Research and Innovation, HICC) |
| Panelists: | Arun Bhowmick (General Supervisor, Urban Systems Assessment, Urban Planning and Economy, City of Edmonton) |
| David Wachsmuth (Associate Professor, School of Urban Planning, McGill University) | |
| Shoshanna Saxe (Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto) | |
| Cameron McIntosh (Senior Researcher, Statistics Canada) |
| Session: | 2:45PM - 3:45 PM: State of Infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Facilitator: | Eiad El-Fateh (Director, Economic Analysis and Results, HICC) |
| Panelists: | Lee-Anne Jennings (Section Chief, Centre for Production, Distribution and Investment Statistics, Statistics Canada) |
| Boafoa Kwamena (Municipal Lead, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ontario Public Service) | |
| Mike Benson (Director of Innovation, Civil Engineering Research Center, University of New Brunswick) | |
| Arnold Yuan (Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University) |
FAQ
Is there a cost to attend the event?
There is no cost to attend the event. Our goal is to spark discussion and raise awareness of data products through the sharing of ideas, limitations, and charting a path forward to maximize the use of infrastructure and community data.
Is the event bilingual (English and French)?
Simultaneous interpretation between English and French will be available for all sessions, this includes all opening and closing remarks, presentations, keynotes, and panels. Participants are encouraged to speak in the official language of their choice.
How do I access simultaneous interpretation?
Virtual participants may access it by selecting the language channel for their preferred language before they join or at any time during the conference.
| 1 | Before you join (or during the conference), click Interpretation. 
|
| 2 | Select your preferred interpretation language or Original audio (floor), if you want to hear the audio without interpretation. |
| 3 | Use the sensitivity slider to balance the audio between the interpreter and the original audio. |
| 4 | Click Join meeting.
If the original audio is in the same language as your preferred interpretation language and the interpreter stops speaking, after a few seconds, you hear the original audio. |
How do I access Real-time translation?
Each participant can select their own preferred caption language for translations. The preferred caption language can be chosen by selecting the “show closed captions” button 
at the bottom left of the screen once in the meeting. Then, simply select Caption language and choose the desired language.
Presentations
| Session: | State of Infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Panelists: | Boafoa Kwamena (Municipal Lead, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ontario Public Service) |
Post-Conference Summary Report
A post-conference summary report will be circulated in the weeks following the conference, highlighting key findings, major talking points, and next steps.
