Inside Public-Sector Innovation
How Local Governments Put Ideas into Action
Published on 14. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
360 pages
978-0-2280-2725-6 (ISBN)
Description
Faced with increasing demands from residents, and amidst growing legal and resource constraints, municipalities are experimenting to find new ways of making things work. Inside Public-Sector Innovation profiles the expertise and experience of local administrators in Canada who have successfully moved innovation from conception to reality.
A practitioner-oriented guide, this volume features multiple innovations from rural, urban, and suburban governments of various sizes. Exploring organizational, process, and service innovations, public administrators directly involved in their implementation highlight lessons for other practitioners considering similar strategies. Chapters cover challenges across policy domains including diversity and inclusion, public health, environmental sustainability, and service delivery inefficiencies. All together, these case studies enhance our understanding of what local public-sector innovation entails and how enterprising public servants can put it to immediate use.
Recognizing local governments in Canada as drivers of experimentation, Inside Public-Sector Innovation advances research through its rich descriptions and analysis of municipal strategies, drawing attention to the unique complications and opportunities associated with innovation at scale.
A practitioner-oriented guide, this volume features multiple innovations from rural, urban, and suburban governments of various sizes. Exploring organizational, process, and service innovations, public administrators directly involved in their implementation highlight lessons for other practitioners considering similar strategies. Chapters cover challenges across policy domains including diversity and inclusion, public health, environmental sustainability, and service delivery inefficiencies. All together, these case studies enhance our understanding of what local public-sector innovation entails and how enterprising public servants can put it to immediate use.
Recognizing local governments in Canada as drivers of experimentation, Inside Public-Sector Innovation advances research through its rich descriptions and analysis of municipal strategies, drawing attention to the unique complications and opportunities associated with innovation at scale.
Reviews / Votes
"Public administration must be as much about practice as it is about theory to have legitimacy - and this volume provides both. Inside Public-Sector Innovation offers ways to both learn from innovation and encourage it." Marcia Wallace, Planning, Development, and Building Services, City of Ottawa "Every Canadian municipal leader should have a copy of this work. The case studies provide excellent frameworks, as they move from ideation to implementation through the innovation journey." Jason Reynar, Lerners LLP "A dynamic and insightful exploration of how innovation thrives across diverse local government contexts. The examples of real-world challenges and creative solutions are both inspiring and instructive. The book's engaging, accessible style and practitioner-led approach make it a standout contribution to the field." - Tamara Krawchenko, University of VictoriaMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Montreal
Canada
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
5 diagrams, 6 tables
Dimensions
Height: 152 mm
Width: 228 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
488 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-2280-2725-6 (9780228027256)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Zachary Spicer is associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and the head of New College at York University.
Joseph Lyons is assistant professor of political science and director of the Local Government Program at the University of Western Ontario.
Tyler Romualdi is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario.
Joseph Lyons is assistant professor of political science and director of the Local Government Program at the University of Western Ontario.
Tyler Romualdi is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario.
Content
Tables and Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: Innovation in Canadian Local Government 3
Joseph Lyons, Tyler Romualdi, and Zachary Spicer
PART ONE: Changing Organizations 15
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
1 Durham: Innovation and Design Services 22
Emma McGarry Ware
2 District of Squamish: The IDEA Committee 37
Keely Kidner
3 York Region: iLabs 52
Michelle Adlam
4 Toronto Community Housing: Anti-Black Racism Strategy, Action Plan, and the Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People 67
Krystle Skeete, Safia Hirsi, Shaquille Morgan, and Zakaria Abdulle
PART TWO: Changing Processes 79
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
5 Town of Ajax: Fire Data Mapping and Senior and Qualified Residents Snow Removal Program 87
Nicole Cooper and Chris Walker
6 Guelph-Wellington: Rural-Urban Living Lab 100
Barb Swartzentruber
7 York Region: COVID Wastewater Surveillance Research Pilot Project 114
Carina Bee, Hadi Dhiyebi, Jennifer Khemai, Asim Qasim, Jessica Armstrong, Mark Payne, and Mark R. Servos
8 Markham, Oakville, and Quinte West: The Municipal Special Event Advisory Team Model 128
Rebecca Cotter
9 The City of Waterloo: The Waterloo Decision Support System 146
Cassandra Pacey
10 The City of Richmond: Long-Term Planning and Development of District Energy Utility Infrastructure 160
Peter Russell and Alen Postolka
PART THREE: Changing Services 177
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
11 The City of Vaughan: The Maintenance Decision Support System 187
Maurice Battistuzzi
12 Hamilton Public Library: Extended Access 200
Simona Dinu and Sherry Fahim
13 The City of Toronto: Indigenous People in Toronto: An Introduction for Newcomers 212
Maimuna Gaye, Francesca Serena Pecora, and Nicole Watson
14 The Municipality of Middlesex Centre: Electronic Building Permits 222
Arnie Marsman
15 The City of Mississauga: Smart Streetlight Poles 236
Craig Stumpf and Karen Gomez
16 The City of Toronto: Using Behavioural Insights to Increase Registered Education Savings Plan Enrollments 247
Paolo Staffieri
17 The City of Guelph: Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Waste Diversion 272
Chad Scott and Vivian De Giovanni
Conclusion: Lessons Learned from Innovative Canadian Local Governments 282
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
Bibliography 301
Contributors 317
Index 321
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: Innovation in Canadian Local Government 3
Joseph Lyons, Tyler Romualdi, and Zachary Spicer
PART ONE: Changing Organizations 15
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
1 Durham: Innovation and Design Services 22
Emma McGarry Ware
2 District of Squamish: The IDEA Committee 37
Keely Kidner
3 York Region: iLabs 52
Michelle Adlam
4 Toronto Community Housing: Anti-Black Racism Strategy, Action Plan, and the Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People 67
Krystle Skeete, Safia Hirsi, Shaquille Morgan, and Zakaria Abdulle
PART TWO: Changing Processes 79
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
5 Town of Ajax: Fire Data Mapping and Senior and Qualified Residents Snow Removal Program 87
Nicole Cooper and Chris Walker
6 Guelph-Wellington: Rural-Urban Living Lab 100
Barb Swartzentruber
7 York Region: COVID Wastewater Surveillance Research Pilot Project 114
Carina Bee, Hadi Dhiyebi, Jennifer Khemai, Asim Qasim, Jessica Armstrong, Mark Payne, and Mark R. Servos
8 Markham, Oakville, and Quinte West: The Municipal Special Event Advisory Team Model 128
Rebecca Cotter
9 The City of Waterloo: The Waterloo Decision Support System 146
Cassandra Pacey
10 The City of Richmond: Long-Term Planning and Development of District Energy Utility Infrastructure 160
Peter Russell and Alen Postolka
PART THREE: Changing Services 177
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
11 The City of Vaughan: The Maintenance Decision Support System 187
Maurice Battistuzzi
12 Hamilton Public Library: Extended Access 200
Simona Dinu and Sherry Fahim
13 The City of Toronto: Indigenous People in Toronto: An Introduction for Newcomers 212
Maimuna Gaye, Francesca Serena Pecora, and Nicole Watson
14 The Municipality of Middlesex Centre: Electronic Building Permits 222
Arnie Marsman
15 The City of Mississauga: Smart Streetlight Poles 236
Craig Stumpf and Karen Gomez
16 The City of Toronto: Using Behavioural Insights to Increase Registered Education Savings Plan Enrollments 247
Paolo Staffieri
17 The City of Guelph: Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Waste Diversion 272
Chad Scott and Vivian De Giovanni
Conclusion: Lessons Learned from Innovative Canadian Local Governments 282
Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons, and Tyler Romualdi
Bibliography 301
Contributors 317
Index 321