There's smart, and there's Kenora smart By: Northern Ontario Business Staff

The small northwestern Ontario community joined Edmonton, Fredericton and Moncton as being among the 21 smartest communities in the world as selected by the Intelligent Community Forum.

The cities were recognized as being exemplary technology users on the world stage by being placed on the Intelligent Community Forum's Smart21 list for 2009.

The communities were shortlisted based on five criteria: broadband availability , its use among the population, the communities' ability to innovate and build a knowledge-based workforce and the ability to make citizens aware of tech initiatives.

Kenora's commitment to fibre-optics through its city web portal and the Kenora Municipal Telephone Service broadband network was recognized as the city looks to transition from forestry to high-tech opportunities.