How the Citizen Developer helps solve local community problems
Toronto has a legacy of citizens volunteering their time to contribute technology solutions for local problems. In recent years the City has actively embraced that trend and now maintains a huge open data portal. Aside from transit data, you can find data about waste collection, bicycle sharing, child care, water quality at the beach, and events across the city. One group that's latched on to the movement to take that data and turn it into products and services for residents is Civic Tech Toronto. It hosts hack nights weekly, dedicated to finding solutions to civic challenges through technology and design. Joining me today on Tech Insights to discuss all this is Skaidra Puodziunas. She's the senior engagement advisor, Ontario Digital Service and she's also a co-organizer at Civic Tech Toronto.