Kingston: Fully Certified as an Intelligent Community – What does this mean?

The Intelligent Community Forum announced the Full Certification of Kingston in Ontario, Canada as an Intelligent Community this month, based on an audit of the initiatives, programs, and policies that make Kingston a highly desirable place to learn, live, work, and set down roots in Canada.

Meeting ICF’s Certification standard provides objective validation that a community has high-quality connectivity, effective workforce development, a business innovation ecosystem and meaningful community engagement, digital inclusion and sustainability programs in place. These qualities combine to support the growth of innovative businesses, meet their talent needs and provide inclusive prosperity and a high quality of life.

Kingston is the fourth city in Canada to achieve Certification and the third to achieve Full Certification.

It is a three-time Smart21 Community since first entering ICF’s Awards program in 2009 and has been named a Top7 Intelligent Community of 2025, its second year achieving this honor.

“Achieving Full Certification as an Intelligent Community is a tremendous honour for Kingston,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson. “This recognition affirms that our city is a place where innovation, collaboration and community engagement drive real progress. As one of only a few Canadian cities to earn this distinction, we’re proud to show that Kingston is competitive, connected and committed to inclusive prosperity and a high quality of life for all.”

“This is an important recognition that Kingston is a community where innovation thrives from collaboration,” said Donna Gillespie, CEO of Kingston Economic Development Corporation. “We’ve created an ecosystem where businesses, government, and academia work in synergy so that companies, startups, entrepreneurs, and our talented workforce have everything they need to innovate globally while staying rooted locally. This certification provides objective, third-party validation that Kingston is investment-ready and offers the connectivity, talent, innovation support, and quality of life that growing companies need.”

“Kingston has been on a decade-long Intelligent Community journey that has achieved remarkable results for a city of any size,” said ICF co-founder and auditor Robert Bell. “In just the past 6 years, the city has grown its labor force by 15%, its population and new jobs by 14% and seen a nearly 70% increase in manufacturing jobs. Long type-cast as a ‘government town,’ Kingston’s private-sector employment now exceeds that of the public sector. It is the result of a conscious, consistent, all-of-community effort – not just to attract employers – but to create a powerful ecosystem that attracts, retains and rewards innovators in many different fields.”

Kingston, Ontario has evolved from its historic role as Canada’s first capital and a key military post into a thriving hub of innovation, sustainability, and cultural vitality. Strategically located at the meeting point of major waterways and within reach of major cities, the city leverages its rich heritage, vibrant arts scene, and one of the nation’s most educated workforces to build a dynamic, future-ready economy. Home to Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College, and leading research institutions, Kingston fosters the commercialization of green technologies and life sciences while supporting a burgeoning startup ecosystem ranked Canada’s best among small cities. With investments in open-access broadband, cleantech, and cultural development through the Kingston Culture Plan, the city has also prioritized inclusivity, sustainability, and quality of life. Kingston’s Integrated Economic Development Strategy focuses on sustainable manufacturing, health innovation, and creative industries, transforming the city into a resilient, connected, and forward-thinking community.

Kingston stands out as a leader in civic engagement and cultural inclusivity as well. The city’s Get Involved Kingston platform engages over 18,000 residents in shaping policies, while Kingston INFocus provides citizens with transparent access to data on jobs, housing and the environment. Programs like the Workplace Inclusion Charter and NEST* support international students, relocating families and newcomers through the difficulties of moving and integration, making the city a magnet for global talent. Kingston has also focused on reconciliation initiatives such as Engage for Change and the Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market to strengthen ties with Indigenous communities, while its UNESCO-recognized canal and a thriving downtown arts scene have led to its earning a reputation as one of Canada’s most livable and vibrant cities.

Learn more from the ICF profile of Kingston.