Good afternoon, everyone. It is truly a pleasure to be here.
I’ve often been called a champion for Open Data at the City, and honestly, it’s a title I wear with pride.
My involvement started well before the program officially launched in 2009.
Back then, the idea of making our data sets available to the public was a radical concept for some, but I saw the potential for a more transparent, efficient, and innovative Toronto.
Since those early days, I’ve made it a priority to keep up that momentum.
Whether it’s pushing for Ward-level survey data or my recent motion to enhance public reporting on service performance and standards, I am always looking for ways to get more City data into your hands.
The goal remains the same: the data belongs to the people.
Toronto should be immensely proud of what we’ve built.
We aren’t just participants in this space; we are unquestioned leaders.
In fact, I happen to know that not one, but two other governments nominated our Toronto team for the Canadian Open Data Awards this year.
They cited our work as a direct inspiration for their own transparency efforts.
When other jurisdictions look to Toronto as the gold standard for empowering their citizens, you know we’re doing something right.
Speaking at last year’s inaugural awards was a personal highlight for me.
The energy in that room was electric. Meeting the users, hearing about your niche projects, and having the chance to congratulate the dedicated public servants who work behind the scenes was incredibly moving.
Being back this year is even more special.
The fact that we have enough high-impact, world-class work to host a full awards show every single year is evidence of open data’s lasting impact in Toronto.
While open data certainly fosters transparency in government, it’s that impact that matters most.
While Open Data is valuable, we have to remember Its true potential is in by how it is used. It matters when it leads to new tools, better services, and tangible, positive impacts.
We see it in projects such as the Transit Headway Management Platform, which uses TTC data to fix bus bunching and get Toronto moving!
We see it in youth-led apps that help students improve their own neighborhoods, or in tools that help our city’s most vulnerable residents access the services they deserve.
That is where the ‘magic’ of the data happens.
To the staff who do the hard work of making City data available: thank you. Your commitment to transparency and public engagement is second to none.
And to our winners and everyone across the city who has made use of open data: thank you for your curiosity and your brilliance. Your efforts make Toronto a better city—one spreadsheet at a time.
