Richmond Hill achieves platinum city data certification for second year

Yorkreigon.com
July 2, 2021

ISO 37120 uses 104 standardized indicators, across 19 themes, to measure a city's performance

The City of Richmond Hill has earned the highest level of ISO 37120 certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) for the second year in a row as part of the "Data for Canadian Cities Pilot Project."

ISO 37120 is the first ISO standard developed especially for cities. The standard contains 104 fully numeric indicators, across 19 themes, and measures city services and quality of life.

In year two of the pilot project funded by Canada's Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities, Richmond Hill has once again achieved platinum level certification by reporting on 90 of the 104 indicators within ISO 37120.

Following submission, Richmond Hill's 90 indicators underwent independent third-party verification.

Through its participation, the city is part of a global network of 100 cities across more than 30 countries -- including a network of 30 Canadian cities of all sizes.

While the first year focused on collecting standard indicators, in the second year, Richmond Hill is now able to begin measuring its progress over time, assess performance and learn from other cities locally and globally using an "apples-to-apples" comparison.

"Our platinum certification demonstrates our commitment to using data to help us provide exceptional public service to our community while always striving to improve," said acting mayor Joe DiPaola.

"WCCD data shows that Richmond Hill is leading from the front on many indicators, such as bicycle lanes, low greenhouse gas levels city-wide and percentage of our population that are immigrants. The ability to measure our progress and compare our fine city to others around the globe is an important part of ensuring quality of life remains high in Richmond Hill," said DiPaola.

"As data-driven insights through year-over-year certification start to build, I do not doubt that the City of Richmond Hill will harness these insights to drive positive change for a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for your city. The WCCD looks forward to supporting you in that process for many years to come," said Dr. Patricia McCarney, WCCD president and CEO.

WCCD was founded in 2014 and exists to help communities of all sizes -- in Canada and across the globe -- to embrace standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data to become more sustainable, resilient, prosperous, inclusive and smart.