Inside Public-Sector Innovation

Zachary Spicer is associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and the head of New College at York University.Joseph Lyons is assistant professor of political science and director of the Local Government Program at the University of Western Ontario.Tyler Romualdi is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario.

“Public administration must be as much about practice as it is about theory to have legitimacy – and this volume provides both. Inside Public-Sector Innovation offers ways to both learn from innovation and encourage it.” Marcia Wallace, Planning, Development, and Building Services, City of Ottawa “Every Canadian municipal leader should have a copy of this work. The case studies provide excellent frameworks, as they move from ideation to implementation through the innovation journey.” Jason Reynar, Lerners LLP “A dynamic and insightful exploration of how innovation thrives across diverse local government contexts. The examples of real-world challenges and creative solutions are both inspiring and instructive. The book’s engaging, accessible style and practitioner-led approach make it a standout contribution to the field.” – Tamara Krawchenko, University of Victoria

• Tables and Figures ixAcknowledgments xiIntroduction: Innovation in Canadian Local Government 3Joseph Lyons, Tyler Romualdi, and Zachary SpicerPART ONE: Changing Organizations 15Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi1 Durham: Innovation and Design Services 22Emma McGarry Ware2 District of Squamish: The IDEA Committee 37Keely Kidner3 York Region: iLabs 52Michelle Adlam4 Toronto Community Housing: Anti-Black Racism Strategy, Action Plan, and the Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People 67Krystle Skeete, Safia Hirsi, Shaquille Morgan, and Zakaria AbdullePART TWO: Changing Processes 79Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi5 Town of Ajax: Fire Data Mapping and Senior and Qualified Residents Snow Removal Program 87Nicole Cooper and Chris Walker6 Guelph-Wellington: Rural-Urban Living Lab 100Barb Swartzentruber7 York Region: COVID Wastewater Surveillance Research Pilot Project 114Carina Bee, Hadi Dhiyebi, Jennifer Khemai, Asim Qasim, Jessica Armstrong, Mark Payne, and Mark R. Servos8 Markham, Oakville, and Quinte West: The Municipal Special Event Advisory Team Model 128Rebecca Cotter9 The City of Waterloo: The Waterloo Decision Support System 146Cassandra Pacey10 The City of Richmond: Long-Term Planning and Development of District Energy Utility Infrastructure 160Peter Russell and Alen PostolkaPART THREE: Changing Services 177Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi11 The City of Vaughan: The Maintenance Decision Support System 187Maurice Battistuzzi12 Hamilton Public Library: Extended Access 200Simona Dinu and Sherry Fahim13 The City of Toronto: Indigenous People in Toronto: An Introduction for Newcomers 212Maimuna Gaye, Francesca Serena Pecora, and Nicole Watson14 The Municipality of Middlesex Centre: Electronic Building Permits 222Arnie Marsman15 The City of Mississauga: Smart Streetlight Poles 236Craig Stumpf and Karen Gomez16 The City of Toronto: Using Behavioural Insights to Increase Registered Education Savings Plan Enrollments 247Paolo Staffieri17 The City of Guelph: Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Waste Diversion 272Chad Scott and Vivian De GiovanniConclusion: Lessons Learned from Innovative Canadian Local Governments 282Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler RomualdiBibliography 301Contributors 317Index 321