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For the second consecutive year, Fredericton has been named one of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities in the world by the Intelligent Community Forum, a New York-based think tank. This week a member of the selection committee is conducting a community visit with a number of leaders from the private, public and academic sectors.

This site visit is a critical component of the evaluation process for selecting the Top Intelligent Community.

Some citizens and business people may wonder how Fredericton has managed to elevate itself to a level where it is able to compete on the world's stage.

To start with, our community's wireless network and the model that supports it are recognized as the right approach to free wireless Internet. In fact, a mere five years after its debut, Fred e-Zone has emerged as one of the most successful broadband initiatives in North America.

There is also a broad range of research initiatives being undertaken throughout the community - both on and off campus. Laboratories and boardrooms are more closely linked today in Fredericton than ever before.

Information and communication technology, and engineering firms are more connected to university labs and faculties, resulting in increased success in obtaining research grants.

In fact, in the last five years, the University of New Brunswick has doubled the amount of research funding it receives.

Our education sector has taken bold steps to launch smart classrooms, increasing access to technology for students and giving teachers the tools to better instruct students and share best practices with one another. Students speak to other students from around the world and collaborate on common learning projects.

In fact, 14 local educators will be travelling to Memphis, Tenn., later this year to lead seminars for American teachers on how to successfully integrate technology into the grades 6-8 curriculum.

There are many other incredible stories throughout our community about people connecting with other people in meaningful ways through technology and innovative ideas.

I encourage our community to rally around this important opportunity and recognize the unique and innovative attributes that our smart city has to offer.

Let's challenge one another to embrace this recognition and leverage it to our community's advantage.

I hear from a number of companies and individuals they proudly share that they are from Fredericton - an Intelligent Community!

The Intelligent Community Forum will announce the Intelligent Community of the Year on May 15 during the Building the Broadband Economy 2009 conference in New York City.

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Anthony Knight is the CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at Anthonyk@frederictonchamber.ca.