Vancouver's Digital Strategy

Abstract

A growing number of cities have started to realize the need to be ‘smart', to use digital technology to drive prosperity and capitalize on the rapidly growing digital economy. Some local governments have developed ‘urban digital strategies' to speed up the pace of change, and to move their digital planning from ad-hoc to an integrated and strategic approach. This paper examines Vancouver's Digital Strategy (VDS) and questions the role defined for this new piece of strategy. The findings represent competing views – offered by local government versus digital business community - for the role of digital in two areas of governance, and strategic planning. The paper concludes by suggesting that urban digital strategies need be incorporated into strategic urban and regional planning with a focus on the biggest issues, specific to each city.