How we’re able to do things differently.
Beaumont is redefining what a city can be
– we are evolving from our roots as community of connected French-Canadian farms and churches into an interconnected blank canvas for the ideas that drive our future economy.
In Beaumont, there is no set way to do things. As a city, we see every opportunity as a chance to think differently, and see every partnership as a chance to challenge the status quo and discover something new. We’re a growing, nimble community intent on being the hub to support people who want to build something they believe in.
“The City of Beaumont wasn’t just a host city for the autonomous shuttle pilot – they were a partner. They worked with us from the beginning to hear our ambitions, wanted to know what the challenges and opportunities were with doing such a bold project, and – most importantly – wanted to know how they could help make it happen.”
– Dan Finley, VP – Corporate Services Pacific Western Transportation
Announcements
[Re] Waste Launches Project In Beaumont
Corey Saban, founder of [Re] Waste, a plastics recycling start-up, approached the City of Beaumont to initiate a pilot project to determine the most effective ways to divert the city’s residential plastic waste stream. The project lasted 3 weeks in late 2020. Sixty-six residents participated. The amount of household plastic waste collected was approximately 275 pounds.
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“A City where even a small idea can generate a big result.”
Essential to the project was the data collected about these plastics. The pilot project enabled [Re] Waste to develop a database to track the collected plastics, classifying this information by type, quantity, and origin for each of the seven main types of plastics in the waste stream. With this information, Corey provided an initial waste audit of the collected plastics to the city. For example, using data gathered during the pilot, he estimated that Beaumont’s 20,000 residents generate an annual plastic waste stream of approximately 260,742 pounds, distributed among the seven types of plastics.
The database and analysis will be invaluable as Beaumont initiates a planning cycle to decide how to manage waste plastics. Like other information in the database, a specific quantity of annual waste puts a ‘face’ on the plastics stream, giving the city concrete projections to work with. City planners working on next steps for managing plastics waste for the city can prepare effective alternatives based on actual data, not just good intentions. From this, plans can be developed and implemented, which can serve as an example for other Alberta municipalities to follow. In addition to generating good data, the successful pilot project effectively demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships to guide and lead change rather than simply react to it.
To learn more, visit their website at rewaste.ca.
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Beaumont in talks to host one of Canada's fastest fibre-optic networks
Beaumont, AB – Beaumont is poised to become one of North America’s first 10 Gigabit cities with the highest speed fibre-optic broadband internet infrastructure available commercially in the world.
The city is negotiating with a consortium that includes Jacobs and Florida-based Smart City Capital, LLC to build an ultra high-speed, open-access network in Beaumont beginning later this year.
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“This is a game-changing development that will bring our residents faster and more reliable internet access while positioning Beaumont as a hub for tech innovation and knowledge-based businesses not only in the region, but across the country,” says Mayor John Stewart. “Whether people kept their business going with videoconferencing during the pandemic or created an online storefront, the last few months have demonstrated how crucial reliable and fast broadband internet is for staying connected and for our economy.”
The project would build a 10 Gigabit per second network with fibre to every home and business in Beaumont and provide the foundation for city-wide WiFi and 5G technologies in the future. “Beaumont caught our eye when it hosted an autonomous vehicle pilot project last year, the first project of its kind in Western Canada,” says Ben Almond, Canadian Regional Director of Jacobs. “The city set itself apart from other communities with its willingness to take bold approaches in support of delivering innovative solutions to promote economic growth and further enhance the quality of life for all its citizens.”
The project would be structured as a Public-Private Partnership (P3), with a major investment from Smart City Capital, Jacobs leading the project design and delivery, and the City of Beaumont providing access to public rights-of-way for the fibre.
This will be an open-access network. Because any internet service provider will be able to access the 10-gig network infrastructure, it will drive competition and support greater consumer choice by allowing internet service providers to sell their products directly to homeowners and businesses.
The contract is expected to be finalized in the coming months with construction starting shortly after. Jacobs’ plan is to source construction contractors from the Edmonton Metropolitan region, providing jobs for Albertans for the duration of the project. The first customers are expected to be hooked up within 12 months, with full project completion within 24 months.
What is an open-access network?
Traditionally in Canada and the United States, broadband internet infrastructure (the cables, fibre and other equipment that connects communities to the internet) is built and operated by the same companies that provide internet service. Open-access networks separate the infrastructure from service delivery, reducing the barriers for internet service providers to enter the market.
About Beaumont
With a population of approximately 20,000, Beaumont is the 5th fastest growing community in Canada and received City status on January 1, 2019. Beaumont borders the City of Edmonton to the north and is only nine kilometres east of the Edmonton International Airport.
About Smart City Capital
Smart City Capital is a global company formed by leading IT industry executives, highly experienced in the Internet of Things, Smart Cities, Service Provider (Backhaul, Small Cell, Cloud and XaaS), and Outcome Based funding solutions. Smart City Capital has developed a unique approach that allows organizations to select the best possible solution from all available options, without being limited by any one equipment or software provider. This approach puts communities’ and citizens’ needs ahead of any specific box providers.
About Jacobs
Jacobs is challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.
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Big things are coming to Beaumont...
The City of Beaumont is in conversations with global partners that will see Beaumont become Western Canada’s most connected city. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.
Get in touch
In the coming months, we’ll have more to say about how we’ll be connecting Beaumont.
If you want to hear more, sign up and we’ll keep you in the loop or ask us a question and we’ll get back to you within a business day.
“There’s community energy and then there’s Beaumont energy. No matter who you are or what you’re up to, if you’re invested in your idea, this city will be there to cheer you on and lift you up.”
– Sylvia Cheverie – Owner, Chartier
What can you expect in Beaumont?
01
An obsessive dedication to seeing growth in the companies that call Beaumont home.
02
A City ready to support tech and innovation businesses as a working partner.
03
A commitment to listening to new approaches to traditional ideas.
04
A City that rallies around those who invest in our community and take a risk.
05
A City where even a small idea can generate a big result.
“We see ourselves a bit like a sandbox. Companies can come here to test innovative ideas and approaches. If you have a bold idea, come talk to us. We’ll figure out how to say ‘yes’ to it.”
– Mayor John Stewart
What Beaumont Can Do
- 01 ELA
- 02 3-D Crosswalks
- 03 CoBIC Connect
- 04 Chartier
- 05 [Re] Waste
A Real Road Test for Autonomous Vehicles: ELA
ELA is a driverless shuttle capable of carrying 12 passengers, and has demonstrated the potential of autonomous vehicles on four continents since 2015.
While most cities make it available for exhibition and experience, Beaumont wanted to go further. When it came time for ELA to debut in this community in 2019, Beaumont was proud to not only host ELA, but to be the first city in Canada to actually integrate an autonomous vehicle into regular traffic. The shuttle carried more than 6,200 passengers and traveled 2,100 kilometers, integrating with both a traffic light and a crosswalk on its route. The project provided data for regulators, transportationcompanies, insurers and municipalities to help plan for communities where autonomous vehicles become commonplace.
Moreover, it showed that the City of Beaumont isn’t just interested in showing off innovation – they want to be an active part of it. Our Mayor, Council and City Admin team want companies to come here to advance innovation and make it work to create a better, future-focused community.
More Than A Coat of Paint: 3-D Crosswalks
Innovation isn’t always driven by tech. It can be just a different way of approaching a simple problem to make a big impact. The City of Beaumont is always looking for those opportunities where a little tweak can make a big difference. Our 3-D crosswalks are a good example not only of our inventive spirit, but another reason why Beaumont is considered one of Canada’s safest cities.
With a few coats of paint, a little bit of greyscale and a different way of approaching a common problem, Beaumont became the first city in Western Canada to use a crosswalk painting technique that creates a 3-D effect to get drivers to slow down, improving pedestrian safety. Following the initial test, one of Alberta’s best companies, ATS Traffic Safety, offered to install the next, more durable and more visible iteration of 3-D crosswalks in Beaumont at no cost to the City.
Creating Collisions & Connections: CoBIC Connect
The City of Beaumont is big on supporting people with ideas and the heart to get them done – sometimes that means creating actual space for these businesses, as well as space in your strategies. Seeing a rise in businesses, start- ups and a demand for a serviced work environment in Beaumont, Beaumont’s economic development division acted quickly to create a non-profit space for entrepreneurs, small businesses and home-based businesses to connect, network and bring our business community closer together. CoBIC Connect is a full-service office to give all of our companies a chance to grow while keeping their overhead low, and a place where they can collide ideas in a way that you can only do in a diverse office space. It’s good for the businesses, which means it’s good for Beaumont.
A Community That Rallies Around You: Chartier
Chartier is a rustic, Quebec French style restaurant in the heart of Beaumont, started by local residents Sylvia and Darren Cheverie. Finding difficulty in getting traditional financing to build their dream restaurant in Sylvia’s hometown, they turned to Kickstarter and their community to raise their first set of funds. The community delivered, making their Kickstarter the most successful culinary campaign in Canada at the time. Today, Chartier is not just a place to get the best Quebec French cuisine in the province – it’s a connecting hub for Beaumont, right at the centre of the city – a place of celebration and proof positive that as a community, Beaumont is ready to rally behind you to make your idea come to life.
“We have been actively developing in Beaumont for a number of years and seen it evolve from a town to a young, energetic, and thriving city. With our development, the City has always been open to us bringing forth new, unique, and innovative ideas. Beaumont continues to work with us to build a welcoming and quality-based community”
Patrick Shaver – President, Avillia Developments
